~ 25 ~  International Journal of Physical Education, Sports and Health 2018; 5(1): 25-29 P-ISSN: 2394-1685 E-ISSN: 2394-1693 Impact Factor (ISRA): 5.38 IJPESH 2018; 5(1): 25-29 © 2018 IJPESH www.kheljournal.com Received: 21-11-2017 Accepted: 22-12-2017 Neepa Banerjee Human Performance Analytics and Facilitation Unit Department of Physiology, University Colleges of Science and Technology, University of Calcutta Rashbehari Shiksha Prangan 92 Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road, Kolkata, India Surjani Chatterjee Human Performance Analytics and Facilitation Unit Department of Physiology, University Colleges of Science and Technology, University of Calcutta Rashbehari Shiksha Prangan 92 Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road, Kolkata, India Satabdi Bhattacharjee Human Performance Analytics and Facilitation Unit Department of Physiology, University Colleges of Science and Technology, University of Calcutta Rashbehari Shiksha Prangan 92 Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road, Kolkata, India Priyanka Biswas Ramkrishna Mission Seva Pratisthan, Department of Physiology, University Colleges of Science and Technology, University of Calcutta Rashbehari Shiksha Prangan 92 Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road, Kolkata, India Santanu De NRS Medical College and Hospital, Department of Physiology, University Colleges of Science and Technology, University of Calcutta Rashbehari Shiksha Prangan 92 Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road, Kolkata, India Shankarashis Mukherjee Human Performance Analytics and Facilitation Unit Department of Physiology, University Colleges of Science and Technology, University of Calcutta Rashbehari Shiksha Prangan 92 Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road, Kolkata, India Correspondence Shankarashis Mukherjee Human Performance Analytics and Facilitation Unit Department of Physiology, University Colleges of Science and Technology, University of Calcutta Rashbehari Shiksha Prangan 92 Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road, Kolkata, India A study on select novel blood pressure indices in adult bengalee females: Impact of practicing bharatnatyam dancing Neepa Banerjee, Surjani Chatterjee, Satabdi Bhattacharjee, Priyanka Biswas, Santanu De and Shankarashis Mukherjee Abstract Hypertension, attributed significantly by physically inactive lifestyle, is presently regarded as one of the leading predisposing factors for the global burden of diseases. On the other hand, Indian classical dancing, a joyful traditionally recreational activity, may be a good choice for structured physical exercise leading to a better cardiovascular health status, if practiced in a proper manner. For assessing hypertensive status traditionally focus was only on systolic and diastolic blood pressure but it has been found that there are relatively new indices which reflect the blood pressure status more accurately. In this backdrop, present study aims to find out the impact, if any, of receiving the training and practicing of Bharatnatyam dancing, one of the most popular form of Indian classical dancing, on select blood pressure indices (Systolic and Diastolic blood pressure, Pulse Pressure, Pulse Pressure Index, Mean Arterial Pressure and Robinson Index) in adult Bengalee female individuals. It has been found that there is overall favorable impact of receiving the training and practicing of Bharatnatyam dancing on the blood pressure indices. It may be concluded that Bharatnatyam dancing has beneficial effect on blood pressure and blood pressure indices and hence may be helpful to achieve and maintain better cardiovascular health status. Keywords: Physical inactivity, Hypertension, PPI, Robinson Index, Indian classical dancing 1. Introduction Hypertension is one of the leading predisposing factors for the global burden of diseases [1] . It has been reported that worldwide two-third deaths from stroke and half of the deaths from coronary artery diseases are attributed to hypertension [2] . It has also been found that cardiovascular mortality and its various clinical manifestations including angina, myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiac failure are increased in the presence of raised blood pressure (BP) [3] . Sedentary lifestyle, being one of the important risk factors for cardiovascular health status [4] including high blood pressure, is of emerging interest for public health researchers. It has been estimated that the general adult population spends up to 70% of their waking hours in sedentary activities such as watching TV, using a computer, sitting at work, and transportation [5, 6, 7] . Although these reports are from western countries, due to unplanned urbanization and mechanization of both household and occupational work, India is also shifting towards a more or less ‘Sedentarism’ leading to many non-communicable diseases including high blood pressure. On the other hand, Dance is an accessible and appealing form of physically active widely enjoyed recreational activity [8] and Indian classical dancing as a recreational activity has a glorious history. Bharatnatyam is one of the oldest but still popular Indian classical dancing involving adoptions of different body postures and hence may be regarded as a joyful physical activity which may exert some influence on cardiovascular system adjudged by blood pressure indices. In this regard, traditionally, only 2 blood pressure measures i.e. systolic and diastolic BP were generally used. Although these measures correlate significantly with both fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, it is becoming increasingly clear that there are other blood pressure indices to give the clear and true picture of cardiovascular status. Previous study has found the favorable impact of Bharatnatyam dancing on body composition [9] especially body fat [10] , motor ability [11] , pulmonary function indices [12, 13] ,