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Background&Objective: Surgery is an important stressor which makes some harmful physiological reactions shuch as high blood pressure, tachycardia, and repiratory distress. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of music on the anxiety and some of physiological responses of patients before abdominal surgery, as assessed by objective parameters and a subjective validated questionnaire. Materials&Methods: This study is a semi-experimental study. Total of 134 subjects was randomly assigned to undergo either 20 minutes of music intervention or a rest period. The level of anxiety was measured using Spilberger questionnaire and physiological responses, arterial blood presure, heart rate and respiratory rate. Subjects in intervention group listened to 20 minutes music by Johann Sebastian Bach. The control group listened to no music. The anxiety level and physiological responses were measured before and after intervention. Results: There was no significant difference between the anxiety level and physiological responses in two groups of subjects before intervention. The findings indicate a significant statistical difference in the level of anxiety and mean of arterial blood pressure in the intervention group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in heart and respiratory rate in two groups of subjects. Conclusion: As indicated by the results of this study, music can provide an effective method of reducing potentailly harmful physiological responses arising from abdominal surgery, therefore it is suggested to use it before surgery.

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Background&Objective: High blood pressure (BP) is one of the most important health problem world-wide (2005), and risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. This study was determine the prevalence of high blood pressure (BP) among urban subjects in Golestan of province, during 2005. Materials&Methods: This cross sectional study was done on 5000 subjects of 17-70 years old in different towns of Golestan province during 2005. Two equal ratios of both sexes were selected on random clustering sampling in the morning and afternoon. A questionnaire consisting of demographic data and clinical information such as electronic presser gauge filled by trained persons. All of the data analyzed using spss-11.5 and descriptive statistics. Results: The result showed that 2500 male (50%) and 2500 (50%) female, ethenicity were (4.6%) Torkaman, (18.9%), and Sistani (76.4%) Fars group from age of 17 to 70 years old. This study on this basis criterion JNC-5 (46.4%) all of studied subjects had blood pressure normal, (22.6%) blood pressure high normal (21.4%), blood pressure light (7.4%), blood pressure medium and (2.2%) blood pressure severe. Conclusion: The prevalence high blood pressure among the urban population in this province in this province was 31%. Which is slightly higher than other regions in Iran and other part of the world. This issue can be considered in the health planing and theraputic programs in the region.