Breathe: Slow Paced Breathing to Lower Blood Pressure

In this randomized clinical trial, persons with moderately elevated blood pressure were trained in either computer-guided breathing exercises or meditative relaxation to breathing. The computer-guided breathing exercise involves listening to tones of ascending and descending pitch to which breathing is entrained to low frequencies over a 15 minute interval. The meditative relaxation involves passive attention to natural breathing for the same duration. Participants will perform these breathing exercises daily at home for four weeks. Before and after the intervention, respiratory, cardiovascular, and urinary endogenous digitalis-like factors will be systematically recorded to determine the extent to which chronic neuroendocrine changes underlie the reductions in blood pressure.

Inclusion criteria

• Over 21 years
• Systolic blood pressure 130-160 or diastolic blood pressure 85-100

Exclusion criteria

• More than one antihypertensive medication
• Beta blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers
• History of coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke, angina or coronary revascularization
• Kidney disease, defined as plasma creatinine > 1.5mg/dL
• Diabetes, defined by insulin or oral hypoglycemic medication or blood sugar > 126mg/dL
• Pulmonary disease, defined as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis, asthma, or use of inhaler
• Upper respiratory infection during past 30 days
• Medication that affects central nervous system function
• Steroid use
• Current pregnancy or lactation within past six months
• Current birth control medication or hormone replacement therapy
• Condition that in the judgment of the Principal Investigator is incompatible with the research study