A study on immediate and training effect of Bhramari pranayama on heart rate variability in healthy adolescents

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Bhramari pranayama (Humming bee breath) is the most common slow pranayama practice involving inhalation through both nostrils followed by exhalation which produces sound of humming bee. Practicing pranayama reduces the effects of stress on different systems by increasing the vagal tone. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there are heightened feelings of stress, anxiety and depression and pranayama can be an effective way to improve our mental and emotional well-being. This study has been chosen to assess the effect of Bhramari pranayama on autonomic functions and to compare the immediate and training effects of Bhramari pranayama in the study group. Materials and Methods: An observational study was conducted in a medical college among 110 students aged between 18-22 years for a period of 2 months. The participants were instructed to do 9 rounds of Bhramari pranayama every day for 3 weeks. The immediate and training effect of pranayama practice on HRV (Heart Rate Variability) was assessed. The parameters of HRV (time and frequency domains) were assessed by PHYSIOPAC- PP4 (MEDICAID SYSTEMS, Chandigarh). Results: After training of Bhramari pranayama for 3 weeks, there was a decrease in Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) and PNN50 and a decrease in frequency domain parameters, LFnu and LF/HF ratio were observed significantly. Conclusion: The study shows the possibility that Bhramari pranayama has a beneficial effect on HRV in medical students, as the autonomic balance produces the improvement of parasympathetic tone.