Massage Therapy and Vital Signs of Patients in Coronary Care Units

In the first issue of Nursing and Midwifery Studies, Adib-Hajbaghery et al. have published the results of a study on the effects of massage therapy by the patient’s relative on vital signs of males admitted in critical care unit (1). Ischemic heart disease is estimated to be the leading cause of mortality in the country and worldwide. Tachycardia and high blood pressure in these patients can have dangerous consequences, especially in their acute phase. Then, treating tachycardia and lowering the high blood pressure may help to control the dangerous consequences in this phase. Due to the side effects of drugs, the study of Adib-Hajbaghery et al. can draw the nurses’ attention to the use of non-pharmacological treatments for balancing the vital signs of patients in the CCU. This study has a good design and the results are presented in clear and expressive way. Also massage therapy was done by the patient’s relatives and this may be viewed as an in- novation in research and practice and is strength for this study.