Cardiovascular Effects of Listening to Fast Speech and Normal Speech

Description

Background: Some previous works on the psychological impact of speech on the cardiovascular system have mainly focused on the speaker as the individual in whom clinical outcomes are being measured. There is limited data on the effects of listening to the fast speech on cardiovascular responses.
Aim: The aim of the study was to comparatively examine blood pressure and heart rate changes upon listening to normal and fast speeches.
Method: A total of 88 (22 females and 66 males) normotensive adults were recruited for the study from a university population. All subjects were made to listen to two different 13-minutes audio recordings of normal speech (news commentary) and fast speech (a radio sports presentation). Blood pressure and pulse rate changes were taken at 4-minutes time intervals during listening to the audio recordings. Based on the enthusiasm and patronage of the sports program, participants were classified as ‘‘Regular’’ listeners and ‘‘Non-regular’’ listeners. Blood pressure and pulse rate changes were calculated as the mean net area under the curve response and differences were analysed with analysis of variance.
Results: Systolic, diastolic and pulse rate responses were significantly higher in both the Regular and Non-Regular listener groups during listening to the fast-speech audio presentation as compared to the News Commentary presentation.
Conclusion: Although there is limited data, listening to fast speech itself may act as a psychosocial stressor that predisposes to an increased cardiovascular response manifested as higher blood pressure and heart rate.