ABSTRACT
Background : As academic examination stresses are associated with changes in the mental and physical health such as increasing anxiety, increasing negative mood. Objective : The objectives for the study were to assess anxiety and sympathetic activity using TMAS and CPT respectively one month before examination and hour before examination .Both these parameters were compared and analysed. Method: Parameters were recorded with the help of Taylor manifest anxiety scale questionnaire and cold pressor test. Students were subjected to the tests between 9:30 to 10:30am one month prior to examination and one hour prior to preliminary practical examination in Physiology. Collected data was analysed using MW test and paired ‘t’test. Result : It was observed that students were having high level of anxiety even before one month of examination. Approximately 64 % of males and 53% of females were having high anxiety one month before examination. However, only 54% males and 53% females were having high anxiety one hour prior to examination. Another finding was increase in systolic and diastolic BP one hour before to examination compared to one month before examination, though the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: It is evident from the study that thought the results are not statistically significant basal increase in anxiety score indicates that medical students exhibit higher anxiety levels even in the absence of examination.
ABSTRACT
Background : Modern age is the age of ‘anxiety and stress’, which is posing a great challenge to the health of society. Stresses of modern life precipitate various cardiovascular and other disorders by distorting basic neuroendocrine mechanism and poses risk to cardiovascular system. Objectives : The objectives for the study were to assess effect of yoga practices on anxiety score (using Taylor’s manifest anxiety scale) and resting heart rate. Methods: Study group included subjects who participated in yoga practices for a period of 3 months. Control group included subjects who did not perform yoga or any exercise. Anxiety score and resting heart rate were recorded in both the groups before start of study and at end of the study. Anxiety score was estimated with the help of Taylor’s manifest anxiety scale questionnaire and resting heart rate was estimated by using electrocardiogram (ECG). Collected data was analysed using Mann Whitney test and paired ‘t’test. Results: At the end of three months statistically significant decrease in anxiety score and resting heart rate was observed in the study group. Whereas, there was no statistically significant difference in anxiety score and resting heart rate of control group. Conclusion& Interpretation: It is evident from the study that yoga practices of even short duration (3 months) can reduce anxiety status and decrease resting heart rate. This probably indicates that parasympathetic activity was increased while sympathetic activity was decreased with yoga practices in young subjects.