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Listen
to "Lullabies" for Better Sleep
Health News Flash
-- By Liza Barnes, Health Educator
If you listen to classical music to relax, you’re on the right track to
achieving a better night’s sleep. Researchers at Case Western Reserve
University’s Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing and the Buddhist
Tzu-Chi General Hospital in Taiwan have shown that listening to soft
music at bedtime can increase sleep quality and quantity.
Researchers randomly assigned 60 adults to either a music group or a
control group. The music group listened to 45 minutes of soft, slow
folk music at bedtime, and the control group did not. The adults ranged
between 60-83 years of age, and had a history of sleep problems. The
music group reported a 35 percent improvement in sleep quality and
quantity during the three week study. Researchers attributed the
improvements to the physical changes the music causes—such as reduced
heart and respiratory rates—which aid restful sleep.
Although this study
involved older adults with
sleep problems, there’s certainly no harm in the younger population
giving it a try. The right music is key, so try classical or folk
music, or a CD that’s marketed as relaxation music. Staying away from
caffeine and other stimulants before bedtime can also help you relax
and fall asleep. Remember though, sleep disorders can be a sign of an
underlying health problem, or can lead to serious health
problems. So
if you’re having ongoing sleep issues, consult your doctor.
Article created on: 2/14/2007
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Children's
Responses to Immunizations: Lullabies as a Distraction
Authors: Megel M.E.; Houser
C.W.; Gleaves L.S.
Source: Issues in Comprehensive
Pediatric Nursing, Volume 21, Number 3
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Ltd
The purpose of this study was to investigate
the effects of audiotaped lullabies on physiological and behavioral
distress and perceived pain among children during routine immunization.
An experimental design was used to study 99 healthy children ages 3 to
6 years.
Half the children received the musical intervention during the
immunizations, while the other half did not. Groups were assessed
during five phases: baseline, preimmunization, during the immunization,
after Band-Aid application, and 2 min after phase 4. Physiological
variables (heart rate, blood pressure) were obtained in phases 1, 4,
and 5.
Behavioral distress was measured using the Observational Scale
of Behavioral Distress during phases 1, 2, 3, and 4. Pain perception
was measured using the Oucher in phases 1 and 4. No significant
differences were found between experimental and control groups for
heart rate, blood pressure, or Oucher scores. However, total distress
scores were significantly less for the experimental group.
These
results indicate that immunization is a stressful experience for
children. Recommendations include further study incorporating
pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions.
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