[ effect of progressive muscle relaxation method on vital signs in myocardial infraction patients]

Acute myocardial infarction is a common life-threatening event. Meanwhile, anxiety is considered as the most common problems for myocardial infarction patients and their families. The present semi-quasi experimental study was performed to examine the effects of progressive muscle relaxation [PMR] technique on the vital signs of myocardial infarction patients. Seventy-six patients with myocardial infarction are divided into two groups of test and control with randomized allocation method. The intervention was the progressive muscle relaxation technique, which was carried out twice a day for three days for the patients of test group. In the any stage of progressive muscle relaxation technique, the instruments used for data collection was demographic information questionnaire and vital signs chart. The use of progressive muscle relaxation significantly decreased the respiratory rate [P=0.03] in the experimental group compared with the control group, but had no significant effect on the other vital signs [pulse rate, systolic and diastolic BP]. Although, progressive muscle relaxation technique decreases the respiratory rate in patients with myocardial infraction, there are slight changes in the other vital signs following PMR application

[Study of lipid profile and the prevalence of its disturbances in Tehran citizens]

Considering the importance of plasma lipids in the frequency of coronary artery disease, a knowledge of the disturbances of the prevalence of this significant factor in different societies is of immense importance. Thus in this paper the prevalence of lipid profile disturbances were evaluated in the people of Tehran. In this survey, 10180 cases that were once randomly chosen for Tehran Blood Pressure Study" were invited for blood and urine tests. Among these, 2592 [25.9%] cases including 1454 women [56.1%] and 1138 men [42.9%] accepted the invitation and the results of their lipid profile studies are shown here. 28.9% of cases had total cholesterol levels of 240 mg/dL or more and 31.2% had cholesterol levels between 200 and 239 mg/dL. The LDL-Cholesterol levels were also measured in these cases, 1.8% of them had levels equal to or higher than 160mg/dL, and 35.9% were between 130 and 159mg/dL. Women had significantly higher LDL-C Levels than men [P=0.0001]. About 10% of cases had HDL Cholesterol levels below 35 mg/dL. Men had significantly lower HDL-C levels than women [P=0.0001]. The mean total cholesterol in women [216 mg/Dl] and men [213 mg/dL] had no significant difference but mean triglyceride in men [183.2 mg/dL] was significantly higher than in women [155.6 mg/dL]. This article also reviewed most studies in this field in our country and also compared the results with some other countries. Overall, at least 36.6% of Tehran citizens had at least one of the two risk factors: i.e., high total cholesterol and/or low HDL-C levels, showing the high prevalence of this problem in Tehran citizens and necessitating serious attempts to solve the problem