Relaxation Breathing Exercises Effects Among Hypertensive Patients

Hypertension is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease and leading cause of premature death globally. Around the world, more than a billion adults suffer with hypertension, which can impact up to 45% of the adult population. All socioeconomic and economic classes experience significant rates of hypertension, and these rates increase with age, reaching up to 60% of people over the age of 60. The Lancet issued a global health survey report in 2010 that included patient data from 67 different countries and identified hypertension as the leading cause of mortality and disability-adjusted life years since 1990. HTN alone accounts for more cardiovascular disease-related deaths in the US than any other modifiable risk factor and is the second-leading preventable cause of death overall, after cigarette smoking. According to recent predictions, there may be up to 1.5 billion hypertensive patients worldwide by 2025, an increase of up to 15%.

Deep breathing exercises involve using a breathing pattern with less than 10 breaths per minute and a lengthy intake period. Benefits of slow, deep breathing exercises include a reduction in pain and stress levels, as well as the management of anxiety and panic. Exercise that involves deep, slow breathing can lower blood pressure, oxygen consumption, metabolism, heartbeat frequency, and frequency of breathing and heartbeat.

Exercises that involve deep breathing can improve vagal tone, stimulate stretch receptors, and lower sympathetic activity. Blood pressure and heart rate are consequently lowered. Shallow breathing increases baroreflex sensitivity and the Vulture-Breuer response, which reduces heart rate and blood pressure.

Diaphragmatic breathing exercises alone have no or little effect. So, the purpose of this study is to combine diaphragmatic breathing exercises with slow deep breathing, alternate nostril breathing and pursed lip breathing to gain its maximum effects and to reduce the stress that is main factor of hypertension

Inclusion criteria

• Age group: Male and female aged 25 - 45 and above without any other uncontrolled cardiovascular or other diseases, with or without antihypertensive medications.
• Patients who have essential hypertension or stage 1 hypertension.
• SBP between 120 and 139 mmHg
• DBP between 80 - 89 mmHg
• An independent lifestyle should be stable on antihypertensive treatment for a minimum of 2 months before the study and no change in medications during participation in the trial.
• Non-smokers
• None was involved in competitive sports activities

Exclusion criteria

• There are signs of secondary hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiac disease and pregnancy.
• In use of beta-blockers or centrally acting sympatholytic agents
• 3 or more antihypertensive drugs
• Pregnant women
• Blood pressure greater 180/110 mmHg
• Recent major surgery or admission within 1 year
• Patients with a BMI >30 kg/ m2