This article first briefly reviews the stress response and effect of relaxation. Then it describes a research project carried out in the large, busy lobby of a major medical center. The self-selected participants in the study (n=156) were asked to hold a Fahrenheit Scale Thermometer and listen to a 12 minute relax ation tape. Finger temperature was measured before and after the tape. In addition, BP was measured before and after on 35 participants. One hundred fifty one participants raised their finger temperature (range I-22 degrees) and 26 experienced a decrease in BP (mean systolic decrease was 14 points, distolic was 6). Conclusions are offered.
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