Association of home blood pressure with sleep and physical and mental activity, assessed via a wristwatch-type pulsimeter with accelerometer in adults.

This study aimed to examine the associations between home blood pressure (HBP) and sleep and activity assessed using data obtained via a wristwatch-type pulsimeter with accelerometer (Pulsense®) using original software. We recruited 28 elderlies and 40 employees aged 24-81 years who were not on hypotensive agents and sleeping drugs. Sleep, activity, and HBP were measured consecutively over a 5-7-day period. Body mass index (BMI), base heart rate (HR0), and age showed significant correlation with HBP in a simple and multiple linear regression analysis. HR0 was positively, and log deep sleep duration, negatively correlated with HBP in the adjusted multiple linear regression analysis. Physical and mental activities were negatively correlated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) in a simple linear regression, but high physical and mental activities tend to reduce deep sleep duration. Self-recorded sleep duration had no relationship with HBP. In conclusion, HR0, BMI, age, deep sleep duration, and activity showed relationships with HBP. Using this type of wristwatch and observing daily sleep and activity data with HBP measurement may have important clinical implication.

Effect of a home-based simple yoga program in child-care workers: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the effect of a brief, simple, home-based yoga program on body pain and health status in child-care workers. DESIGN: This was a randomized, controlled trial comparing a home-based yoga group and a control group. PARTICIPANTS: The trial comprised 98 healthy female nursery school and kindergarten teachers. INTERVENTIONS: A DVD of a simple home-based yoga program was provided for a period of 2 weeks. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was the reported change in body pain at 2 weeks (after intervention) and 4 weeks (follow-up). The secondary outcome measure was the 30-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ30) score and physical function. RESULTS: The 67 yoga group participants reported improved menstrual pain at 4 weeks; menstrual pain was reduced from 57.0 ± 27.8 to 37.8 ± 26.7 in the yoga group, versus 52.4 ± 36.5 to 46.9 ± 32.1 in the control group (change from baseline in the yoga group versus change from baseline in the control group, -15.3 points; p=0.044). The total GHQ30 score and the GHQ subscale scores ("sleep disturbance" and "anxiety and dysphoria") improved significantly at 4 weeks in the yoga group, but not in the control group. In the good-adherence group, low back pain improved during the intervention (p=0.006) and follow-up (p=0.001) periods. Menstrual pain was also improved (p=0.044). No adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS: A home-based simple yoga program may improve the health status of child-care workers.

Effect of regular gum chewing on levels of anxiety, mood, and fatigue in healthy young adults.

INTRODUCTION: The effect of regular gum chewing on psychological status is unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of gum chewing for fourteen days on psychological status and physical and mental fatigue in healthy young adults. METHODS: We assigned 50 volunteers randomly to an intervention group (n = 26) and a control group (n = 24). Participants in the intervention group were requested to chew the gum twice per a day for fourteen days. The volunteers were required to complete a questionnaire related to lifestyle for baseline assessment. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Profile of Mood State (POMS), the World Health Organization Quality of Life 26, and assessment of physical and mental fatigue by visual analog scale were used at baseline, 2 weeks (after intervention), and 4 weeks (follow-up). RESULTS: At 2 weeks, the score of state anxiety was significantly lower in the intervention group than the control group. The intervention participants' scores of depression-dejection, fatigue and confusion in POMS were better than the control group scores. Mental fatigue were also relieved after the intervention. At 4 weeks, there were no significant differences between both groups. CONCLUSION: Fourteen days' gum chewing may improve the levels of anxiety, mood and fatigue.