2020, Vol. 2, Issue 2, Part A

author(s)
Angelin Lavanya, S Nandhini, Gayathri and T Lavanya

abstract
Laughter is a part of human behavior regulated by the brain, helping humans clarify their intentions in social interaction and providing an emotional context to conversation. Laughter is used as a signal for being part a group–it signals acceptance and positive interactions with others. Laughter is sometimes seen as contagious, and the laughter from others as a positive feedback. Hypertension HTN or HT, also known as high blood pressure HBP, is a long- term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated. High blood pressure typically does not cause symptoms. Long–term high blood pressure, however, is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, peripheral arterial disease, vision loss, chronic kidney disease, and dementia. A quantitative one group pre-test and post-test research design was conducted among 60 hypertensive patients. Purposive sampling technique was used to select samples. Semi- Structured questionaire was used to collect demographic data. The investigator explained the purpose of the study. Pre-test was performed for all study participants by semi structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurements were taken. Laughter therapy was administered to study participants with routine care. It was taught to them by demonstration to the experimental group. Then laughter therapy was practiced by them daily for 20 minutes at 7.20 am consecutively for 14 days in the playground. The study participants were subjected to a total of 14 sessions of laughter therapy for 14 days. The blood pressure was measured 15 to 20 minutes before and after the laughter therapy daily. The data were collected and analyzed. The result clearly infers there is significant improvement in the post test level of blood pressure at p<0.001 level. This reveals there is a need for the non-pharmacological measures among the hypertensive clients to reduce the blood pressure level and its complication.