Unlocking Word
Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. conduct (v.) [n. kon-duhkt; v. kuhn-duhkt] – to do or to lead something
Example: The manager of the company conducts leadership training every two
months.
2. therapy (n.) [ther-uh-pee] – method or process of
healing or treatment
Example: Massage
is one kind of relaxation therapy.
3. cardiology (n.) [kahr-dee-ol-uh-jee] – the branch of medical science
that studies the heart and its diseases
Example: The
department of cardiology published a
report on ways to prevent heart attacks.
4. replacement (n.) [ri-pleys-muhnt] – a thing in exchange of
something
Example: I
had to find a replacement for the
book I lost.
Article
Read the text below.
Listening
to music and laughing can lower a person's blood pressure, according to a
research presented in Atlanta, USA last Friday.
The
said study was conducted by Japanese researchers from Osaka
University Graduate School of Medicine headed by Eri Eguchi.
The
researchers randomly picked 90 males and females ages 40 to 74. One group was
given a music therapy, in which they listened to their choice of Japanese songs
from classic, jazz, or pop. They were also given a laughing therapy, in
which they listened to humorous Japanese stories. The members of this group
were likewise encouraged to keep listening to music while at home. Meanwhile,
the second group was given neither of the therapies. Sessions were done every
other week for three months.
After
three months, the first group who has received the music and laughter therapies
lowered their blood pressure by five to six points while the second group did
not show any change.
It
is not yet clear how listening to music and laughing improve blood pressure.
But Eguchi said that relaxation and therapies may decrease cortisol, a stress
hormone that can add to high blood pressure.
A
similar study was done previously by the group of Michael Miller, M.D.,
director of preventive cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical
Center, in Baltimore. In their said research it showed "that both laughing
and listening to upbeat music improved the function of the inner lining of
blood vessels." But he also added that listening to music and laughing
alone aren't enough to treat high blood pressure. Although these are more
natural ways to improve one's health, he does not recommend it as a replacement for medication.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
·
Do
you like listening to music or watching comedy shows?
·
What
activities do you usually do to relieve stress?
Discussion B
·
Do
you take medicines when you get sick?
·
What
do you think about natural ways of healing?
