scholarly journals Flotation REST as a Stress Reduction Method: The Effects on Anxiety, Muscle Tension, and Performance

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 333-346
Author(s):  
Marcus Börjesson ◽  
Carolina Lundqvist ◽  
Henrik Gustafsson ◽  
Paul Davis
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Reduction Method ◽  
Muscle Tension ◽  
Skill Levels ◽  
Physiological Indicators ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Golf Putting ◽  
And Performance

The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of flotation REST upon skilled and less skilled golfers’ anxiety in terms of physiological indicators of stress, self-rated anxiety scores, muscle tension, and the effect on golf putting. Prior to performing the putting task participants underwent a treatment of flotation REST or a period of resting in an armchair. Participants completed both treatments in a randomized order with a two-week interval. The results showed that both flotation REST and the armchair treatment reduced systolic blood pressure and heart rate, with no differences between treatments or athlete skill levels. No significant differences between treatments were revealed regarding self-ratings, level of muscle tension or putting precision. The results indicate that flotation REST may be useful for reducing negative symptoms related to stress and anxiety in general; however, no support for direct positive effects on golf performance were found.

scholarly journals Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction for Executives: Results from a Field Experiment

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zubin R. Mulla ◽  
Kalaiselvan Govindaraj ◽  
Srinivasa Rao Polisetti ◽  
Elis George ◽  
Nagraj Rao S. More
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Diastolic Blood Pressure ◽  
Stress Reduction ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Stress Indicators ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Stress Levels ◽  
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

Mindfulness-based meditation has been reported to produce positive effects on psychological and physiological well-being, and to reduce stress levels. The present study examined the effects of a 16-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program on stress levels and self-compassion of 22 executives of a large public sector oil company located in the south of India. The study was a pre- and post-test experimental design in which participants were tested for physiological and psychological parameters, both before and after the intervention. Physiological assessment was carried out through the testing of blood cortisol and measurement of systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Participants also reported on variables such as self-compassion, and various stress indicators such as physical indicators, sleep indicators, behavioral indicators, emotional indicators, and personal habits. Results from the present study suggest that a 16-week MBSR intervention not only had a positive impact on various stress indicators (physical, sleep, behavioral, emotional, and personal habits) and self-compassion but also reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure and blood cortisol levels. The findings suggest that MBSR can be a useful stress management intervention for addressing the issues of high stress for senior executives in Indian organizations.

Undesirable Effects of Goal Setting on Perceived Fairness, Commitment, and Unethical Behavior

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Keith
Keyword(s):  
Goal Setting ◽  
Unethical Behavior ◽  
The United States ◽  
Goal Commitment ◽  
Management Technique ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Perceived Fairness ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
And Performance

Abstract. The positive effects of goal setting on motivation and performance are among the most established findings of industrial–organizational psychology. Accordingly, goal setting is a common management technique. Lately, however, potential negative effects of goal-setting, for example, on unethical behavior, are increasingly being discussed. This research replicates and extends a laboratory experiment conducted in the United States. In one of three goal conditions (do-your-best goals, consistently high goals, increasingly high goals), 101 participants worked on a search task in five rounds. Half of them (transparency yes/no) were informed at the outset about goal development. We did not find the expected effects on unethical behavior but medium-to-large effects on subjective variables: Perceived fairness of goals and goal commitment were least favorable in the increasing-goal condition, particularly in later goal rounds. Results indicate that when designing goal-setting interventions, organizations may consider potential undesirable long-term effects.

Caffeine and Placebo Expectation

2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunfeng Sun ◽  
Yinling Zhang ◽  
Ning He ◽  
Xufeng Liu ◽  
Danmin Miao
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Sleep Deprivation ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Cardiovascular Regulation ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Pressure Tests ◽  
Healthy Males

Abstract. Caffeine placebo expectation seems to improve vigilance and cognitive performance. This study investigated the effect of caffeine and placebo expectation on vigilance and cognitive performance during 28 h sleep deprivation. Ten healthy males volunteered to take part in the double-blind, cross-over study, which required participants to complete five treatment periods of 28 h separated by 1-week wash-out intervals. The treatments were no substance (Control); caffeine 200 mg at 00:00 (C200); placebo 200 mg at 00:00 (P200); twice caffeine 200 mg at 00:00 and 04:00 (C200-C200); caffeine 200 mg at 00:00 and placebo 200 mg at 04:00 (C200-P200). Participants were told that all capsules were caffeine and given information about the effects of caffeine to increase expectation. Vigilance was assessed by a three-letter cancellation test, cognitive functions by the continuous addition test and Stroop test, and cardiovascular regulation by heart rate and blood pressure. Tests were performed bihourly from 00:00 to 10:00 of the second day. Results indicated that C200-P200 and C200-C200 were more alert (p < .05) than Control and P200. Their cognitive functions were higher (p < .05) than Control and P200. Also, C200-P200 scored higher than C200 in the letter cancellation task (p < .05). No test showed any significant differences between C200-P200 and C200-C200. The results demonstrated that the combination of caffeine 200 mg and placebo 200 mg expectation exerted prolonged positive effects on vigilance and cognitive performance.

THE USE OF MEDICINES IN TREATING HYPERTENSION IN HUE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

2016 ◽  
pp. 76-84
Author(s):  
Khoa Bao Chau Thai ◽  
Thi Hong Phuong Vo
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Channel Blocker ◽  
Enzyme Inhibitor ◽  
Antihypertensive Drugs ◽  
Good Prognosis ◽  
Target Blood Pressure ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Key Words Hypertension ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Positive Effects

Background: Hypertension is a common condition in the world as well as in Viet Nam. If hypertension isn’t treated well, it can cause many serious complications. Controlling target blood pressure will bring positive effects on reducing mortality rate and also disabilities caused by diseases related to hypertension. Objectives: (1) Analyzing the use of medicines in treating hypertension. (2) Evaluating the effects of medicine usage in treating hypertension at the hospital of Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Materials and methods: 388 patients were diagnosed as having hypertension with inpatient care at the Cardiovascular Department of Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy’s hospital, using cross-sectional descriptive study methods. Results: All antihypertensive drugs in the research were contained in the antihypertensive list recommended by Vietnamese Society of Cardiology. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and calcium channel blocker were the two most popular drug groups (96.6% and 71.4%, respectively). The rate of using multi-therapy regimens was higher than the rate of using uni-therapy regimens in both initial therapies (64.7%>35.3%) and final therapies (61.9%>38.1%). The rate of patients having interactions between antihypertensive drugs and the other kinds of drugs was 7.5%. The rate of patients having reasonable prescriptions was 84.3%. Evaluating the effects of medicine usage in treatments showed that the rate of patients reaching target blood pressure before leaving the hospital was 67.3%. Most patients were evaluated as having good prognosis after treatment, up to 81.7%. Conclusions: All antihypertensive drugs in the research were contained in the antihypertensive list recommended by Vietnamese Society of Cardiology. The rate of using multi-therapy regimens was higher than the rate of using uni-therapy regimens. The rate of drug interactions was quite low; most patients were evaluated as having good prognosis after treatment. Key words: hypertension, antihypertensive drugs.

Effect of leadership styles on organizational commitment and performance in small- and medium-sized enterprises in Iraqi Kurdistan

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (9) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Karwan Hamasalih Qadir ◽  
Mehmet Yeşiltaş
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Commitment ◽  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Leadership Styles ◽  
Chief Executive Officers ◽  
Chief Executive ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Iraqi Kurdistan ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Executive Officers

Since 2003 the number of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has increased exponentially in Iraqi Kurdistan. To facilitate further growth the owners and chief executive officers of these enterprises have sought to improve their leadership skills. This study examined the effect of transactional and transformational leadership styles on organizational commitment and performance in Iraqi Kurdistan SMEs, and the mediating effect of organizational commitment in these relationships. We distributed 530 questionnaires and collected 400 valid responses (75% response rate) from 115 SME owners/chief executive officers and 285 employees. The results demonstrate there were positive effects of both types of leadership style on organizational performance. Further, the significant mediating effect of organizational commitment in both relationships shows the importance of this variable for leader effectiveness among entrepreneurs in Iraqi Kurdistan, and foreign entrepreneurs engaging in new businesses in the region.

scholarly journals Physiological and Psychological Effects of Watching Videos of Different Durations Showing Urban Bamboo Forests with Varied Structures

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 3434
Author(s):  
Yuqian Wang ◽  
Mingyan Jiang ◽  
Yinshu Huang ◽  
Zhiyi Sheng ◽  
Xiao Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Stable State ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Psychological Effects ◽  
Physiological Indicators ◽  
Psychological Indicators ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Long Time

This study illustrated the physiological and psychological effects of watching videos of different durations showing bamboo forests with varied structures. Physiological indicators, including EEG (electroencephalogram), blood pressure, skin conductance, and pulse, were monitored in 180 Chinese university students (mean age: 20.72 ± 2.56 years) while they were watching bamboo videos. Before and after watching the videos, their psychological indicators, including positive and negative moods, were measured using the Profile of Mood States questionnaire. After watching the bamboo videos of different durations, all of the physiological indicators responded to the stimulation after only 1 min. The indicators showed different trends at 1, 3 and 5 min. EEG decreased and then was maintained at a stable level after 1 min, and the high β, low β, and α waves had no significant differences between 1, 3 and 5 min. Blood pressure dropped to a stable state after 3 min, and the decline was significantly different greater after 3 min than after 1 min. Skin conductance increased for 1 to 5 min, and it did not stabilize after a long time (5 min). Pulse decreased after 1 min but increased after 5 min. After watching the videos with bamboo of varying structures, the physiological and psychological indicators showed significantly different changes. Skin conductance significantly increased (mean value: 6.78%), and the amount of sweat was more effectively reduced, thereby reducing tension, when the students viewed videos of sympodial bamboo forests compared with monopodial bamboo forests. Bamboo forests with a higher canopy density (0.83–0.85) could significantly decrease α waves (mean value: 1.50 Hz), relaxing the human body. High β and low β waves showed greater decreases, with tension reduced more effectively, when bamboo forests with a low tilt ratio (< 1.5%) were viewed. Bamboo forests with neat undergrowth could have more beneficial physiological and psychological effects on the human body.

scholarly journals Positive and Negative Aspects of Sodium Intake in Dialysis and Non-Dialysis CKD Patients

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 951
Author(s):  
Yasuyuki Nagasawa
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Water Intake ◽  
Salt Intake ◽  
Sodium Intake ◽  
Extracellular Fluid ◽  
Sodium Restriction ◽  
Dialysis Patients ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Volume Blood

Sodium intake theoretically has dual effects on both non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and dialysis patients. One negatively affects mortality by increasing proteinuria and blood pressure. The other positively affects mortality by ameliorating nutritional status through appetite induced by salt intake and the amount of food itself, which is proportional to the amount of salt under the same salty taste. Sodium restriction with enough water intake easily causes hyponatremia in CKD and dialysis patients. Moreover, the balance of these dual effects in dialysis patients is likely different from their balance in non-dialysis CKD patients because dialysis patients lose kidney function. Sodium intake is strongly related to water intake via the thirst center. Therefore, sodium intake is strongly related to extracellular fluid volume, blood pressure, appetite, nutritional status, and mortality. To decrease mortality in both non-dialysis and dialysis CKD patients, sodium restriction is an essential and important factor that can be changed by the patients themselves. However, under sodium restriction, it is important to maintain the balance of negative and positive effects from sodium intake not only in dialysis and non-dialysis CKD patients but also in the general population.

The effect of Zotepine on productive and negative symptoms in schizophrenic patients

1988 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-130
Author(s):  
D.M. Dieterle ◽  
M. Ackenheil ◽  
H.P. Kapfhammer ◽  
F. Müller-Spahn
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Antipsychotic Efficacy ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Dose Dependent ◽  
Low Dosage ◽  
Motor Disturbances

RésuméZotepine was studied in 15 schizophrenic patients over a period of 28 days with regard to its antipsychotic efficacy, effect on negative schizophrenic symptoms, tolerability and adverse effects. Nine patients received Zotepine in a high dosage of 230 mg/die±52 mg, 6 patients in a low dosage of 168 mg/die ± 18 mg. Two patients receiving the high dosage dropped out after 21 days because of worsening of symptomatology and suicide attempts. Zotepine had rapid antipsychotic effects with sedative properties during the initial days of treatment. Minimal adverse effects and extra-pyramidal motor disturbances as well as dose-dependent positive effects on negative schizophrenie symptoms were found.

scholarly journals Paleolithic Diet—Effect on the Health Status and Performance of Athletes?

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1019
Author(s):  
Barbara Frączek ◽  
Aleksandra Pięta ◽  
Adrian Burda ◽  
Paulina Mazur-Kurach ◽  
Florentyna Tyrała
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Model Assessment ◽  
Paleolithic Diet ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Short And Long Term ◽  
The Impact

The aim of this meta-analysis was to review the impact of a Paleolithic diet (PD) on selected health indicators (body composition, lipid profile, blood pressure, and carbohydrate metabolism) in the short and long term of nutrition intervention in healthy and unhealthy adults. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials of 21 full-text original human studies was conducted. Both the PD and a variety of healthy diets (control diets (CDs)) caused reduction in anthropometric parameters, both in the short and long term. For many indicators, such as weight (body mass (BM)), body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC), impact was stronger and especially found in the short term. All diets caused a decrease in total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglycerides (TG), albeit the impact of PD was stronger. Among long-term studies, only PD cased a decline in TC and LDL-C. Impact on blood pressure was observed mainly in the short term. PD caused a decrease in fasting plasma (fP) glucose, fP insulin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in the short run, contrary to CD. In the long term, only PD caused a decrease in fP glucose and fP insulin. Lower positive impact of PD on performance was observed in the group without exercise. Positive effects of the PD on health and the lack of experiments among professional athletes require longer-term interventions to determine the effect of the Paleo diet on athletic performance.

Effects of nicotine on canine intestinal blood flow and oxygen consumption

1984 ◽  
Vol 246 (2) ◽  
pp. G195-G203
Author(s):  
R. H. Gallavan ◽  
Y. Tsuchiya ◽  
E. D. Jacobson
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Oxygen Consumption ◽  
Muscle Tension ◽  
Intestinal Blood Flow ◽  
Mesenteric Blood Flow ◽  
State Response ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Intestinal Circulation

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of nicotine on intestinal blood flow and oxygen consumption. The intravenous infusion of nicotine at doses corresponding to those experienced by smokers produced a transient increase in systemic arterial blood pressure and mesenteric blood flow. Subsequently a steady-state response developed that consisted of a reduction in mesenteric blood flow due to both a decrease in blood pressure and an increase in intestinal vascular resistance. This increase in resistance was probably due to increased levels of circulating catecholamines. The intra-arterial infusion of nicotine into the intestinal circulation at doses experienced by the average smoker had no effect on either intestinal blood flow or oxygen consumption. Similarly, under in vitro conditions nicotine had no direct effect on intestinal vascular smooth muscle tension. Thus, nicotine appears to reduce intestinal blood flow indirectly as a result of its systemic effects.

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