Effects of Forest Bathing on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate in Older Adults in Mexico

Abstract

Currently, in cities in different regions of the world, forest bathing (FB) is considered a practice to promote public health in vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, who have a higher risk of hypertension. This practice has had limited development in Latin American countries, and therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the benefits of forest baths on blood pressure and heart rate in a group of older adults in Guadalajara, Mexico. A program of six sessions was designed, the first to welcome and recognize the natural environment of the urban forest and the other five dedicated to each of the senses (hearing, touch, smell, sight, and taste), using the methodology of the Forest Therapy Hub (FTHub). The type of study was observational (before and after) with a single group, where the participants’ blood pressure and heart rate were evaluated. The results obtained showed significant effects of FB on reduction in high systolic blood pressure and diastolic hypertension before and after FB, with no significance on heart rate. Forest baths can be considered as an alternative strategy to manage the risk of hypertension in older adults, due to their ability to induce relaxation and normalize blood pressure levels.