Regular slow-breathing exercise effects on blood pressure and breathing patterns at rest

Abstract

Previous studies reported that a device-guided slowbreathing (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.

Effects of acute and long-term slow breathing exercise on muscle sympathetic nerve activity in untreated male patients with hypertension

“…In our study, long-term SLOWB exercise reduced office BP, whereas 24-h BP profile was not affected by this intervention. Our results are consistent with a recently published study evaluating the effects of daily practice device-guided SLOWB on BP in 40 participants with prehypertension or stage 1 hypertension, wherein 4 weeks of SLOWB training decreased clinic BP without changes in 24-h profile [35]. Previous studies demonstrated conflicting results regarding the effects of device-guided breathing on BP, with some studies reporting no significant difference in BP changes when hypertensive individuals with [36] or without [37] type 2 diabetes were randomized to SLOWB exercise or to listening to music through a Discman, whereas other studies reported a substantial reduction in BP in diabetic hypertensive individuals [38] as compared to a control group.…”

The sympathetic nervous system and blood pressure in humans: implications for hypertension

“…In a recent meta-analysis, transcendental meditation was reported to effectively lower blood pressure in patients with hypertension, whereas psychological approaches to stress management were deemed ineffective. 89 Intriguingly, the results of several studies indicate that device-guided, home-based training with slow, deep breathing can effectively reduce blood pressure in patients with hypertension, [90][91][92] although this has not been a universal finding. 93 These findings are particularly intriguing given the recent identification of an amplified bursting of SNA related to the respiratory cycle that appears to contribute to the progression and maintenance of hypertension in rats, 7 and the alterations in respiratory-sympathetic coupling recently reported in human hypertension.…”

Effects of slow and regular breathing exercise on cardiopulmonary coupling and blood pressure

“…Based on the phenomena that CPC at slow breathing rate can increase heart rate variability and improve arterial baroreflex sensitivity [15,19], breathing control techniques have been employed to improve cardiovascular autonomic balance and reduce BP [2,33]. An FDA (the Food and Drug Administration, USA) approved device, Resperate (InterCure Ltd, Lod, Israel), has been developed for the treatment of hypertension by PB technology [35].…”