A five-minute breathing exercise can help lower blood pressure and improve heart health. People of all ages and lifestyles can benefit. The findings are in a study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology.
First Published Oct 4, 2022, 10:17 PM IST
Study shows daily breathing exercises can help lower blood pressure. New research suggests that 30 deep breaths a day can treat or prevent high blood pressure.
A five-minute breathing exercise can help lower blood pressure and improve heart health. People of all ages and lifestyles can benefit. The findings are in a study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology.
Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Arizona tested 128 healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 82. The researchers prescribed breathing exercises for six weeks.
Participants used a hand-held device similar to an inhaler for five to 10 minutes per day. Within two weeks, the participants’ blood pressure began to improve. They saw an average reduction in systolic blood pressure of 9 mmHg by the end of the trial.
These effects are more effective than lifestyle changes such as sodium reduction or weight loss, as is medication… – says Daniel Craighead, assistant research professor at the University of Colorado Boulder.
The researchers said they found the practice beneficial not only for people who needed to lower blood pressure, but also for younger, healthier participants. Studies have also shown that slow, deep breathing is associated with benefits such as stress relief, better sleep, healthier blood pressure and better mental health.
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Last Updated Oct 4, 2022, 10:19 PM IST
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