The cardiovascular effects of rate of verbal communication.

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of modifying rate of speech on the cardiovascular responses of type A and type B cardiac patients during verbalization. Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded in 111 cardiac patients every minute during two series: rapid and slow verbalization. Cardiovascular responses were significantly greater during rapid than during slow verbalization, independent of type A behavior pattern. This study demonstrates that reducing rate of speech can decrease cardiovascular reactivity during verbalization.