THE EFFECT OF DRINKING WATER ON BLOOD PRESSURE AND PULSE RATE IN PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE AT KASHMAR SHAHID MODARRES HOSPITAL

Almost 1/4 of American people are suffering from hypertension, it is often
asymptomatic, because of that it was called the silent killer. This study aimed to determine the effect
of drinking water on blood pressure and pulse rate in heart failure patients.
Materials & Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 38 hospitalized patients with
heart failure, grade 3 or 4, using purposeful sampling. The variables of blood pressure, pulse rate and
respiratory rate were measured in four stages respectively: immediately before drinking water,
immediately after drinking water, thirty minutes, and one hour after drinking water. All parameters
were measured in both lying and sitting position. Mercury sphygmomanometer and stethoscope were
applied for data collection. Data were analyzed by SPSS:19, using repeated measure test.
Results: In sitting position, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial blood pressure and pulse rate
increased significantly immediately after drinking water, in lying position, both systolic and diastolic
blood pressure, mean arterial blood pressure and pulse rate increased significantly immediately after
drinking water, but mean arterial blood pressure was decreased significantly one hour after drinking
water in standing and sitting positions (P < 0.05 ).
Conclusion: This study showed changes in blood pressure and pulse rate after drinking water, thus
further studies are recommended to be done on this field