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| Author/Association: | Anderson DE, McNeely JD, Windham BG |
| Title: | Regular slow-breathing exercise effects on blood pressure and breathing patterns at rest [with consumer summary] |
| Source: | Journal of Human Hypertension 2010 Dec;24(12):807-813 |
| Method: | clinical trial |
| Method Score: | 5/10 [Eligibility criteria: Yes; Random allocation: Yes; Concealed allocation: No; Baseline comparability: Yes; Blind subjects: No; Blind therapists: No; Blind assessors: No; Adequate follow-up: Yes; Intention-to-treat analysis: No; Between-group comparisons: Yes; Point estimates and variability: Yes. Note: Eligibility criteria item does not contribute to total score] *This score has been confirmed* |
| Consumer Summary: | WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC: Several previous studies have reported that regular practice of device-guided slow breathing exercises decrease resting blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive patients. Device-guided slow breathing is known to be accompanied by decreases in peripheral vasoconstriction, but whether they produce decreases in 24-h BP remains to be determined. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS: This study shows that daily practice of device-guided slow breathing exercises decreases resting, but not 24-h BP in patients with mild hypertension. The decreases in resting BP are accompanied by decreases in breathing rate and increases in tidal volume at rest. These results raise the issue of whether the salutary effects of slow breathing exercises address the root causes of hypertension, or merely decrease the autonomic influence on BP. |
| Abstract: | Previous studies reported that a device-guided slow-breathing (DGB) exercise decreases resting blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive patients. This study investigated the effects of daily practice of DGB on (a) 24-h BP and breathing patterns in the natural environment, as well as (b) BP and breathing pattern during clinic rest. Altogether, 40 participants with pre-hypertension or stage 1 hypertension were trained to decrease breathing rate through DGB or to passively attend to breathing (control, CTL) during daily 15-min sessions. The participants practiced their breathing exercise at home for 4 weeks. The DGB (but not the CTL) intervention decreased clinic resting BP, mid-day ambulatory systolic BP (in women only) and resting breathing rate, and increased resting tidal volume. However, 24-h BP level was not changed by DGB or CTL interventions, nor was overnight breathing pattern. These findings are consistent with the conclusion that a short-term, autonomic mechanism mediated the observed changes in resting BP, but provided no evidence that regular DGB affected factors involved in long-term BP regulation. Additional research will be needed to determine whether 24-h BP can be lowered by a more prolonged intervention. Reprinted by permission from Journal of Human Hypertension, Macmillan Publishers Ltd. Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):  help |
