Effect of Six Week Training of Alternate Nostril Breathing on Cardiac Output and Systemic Peripheral Resistance in Prehypertensive Obese Young Adults

Abstract

Obesity is a state of excessive deposition of fat in the body. Prehypertension is a state just before hypertension (SBP=120–139 mm Hg, DBP=80–89 mmHg) and very common in young adults with family history of hypertension. Hypertension is very like to develop in prehypertensive obese young adults if prevention strategies are not applied timely. Alternate nostril breathing (ANB, Anulom-Vilom) is one of the most popular pranayama yogic exercises. The present study was done to find out effect of 6 week training of alternate nostril breathing on cardiac output and systemic peripheral resistance in pre hypertensive obese young adults by using Impedance Cardiovasograph (Nivomon, L&T Medical's). Sixty prehypertensive obese (BMI >30, SBP=120–139 mm Hg, DBP=80-89mmHg) male subjects, aged 17–25 years, participated voluntarily in the present study, Cardiac output, systemic peripheral resistance and other cardiovascular parameters were measured before and after 6 weeks training of Alternate Nostril Breathing (ANB) exercise of 15 minutes daily. Results showed significant decrease in all cardiovascular parameters after 6 weeks practice of ANB for 15 minutes daily. Decrease in Diastolic blood pressure (DBP), Systemic Peripheral Resistance (SVR) and Systemic Vascular Resistance Index (SVRI) was highly significant (p<0.01) while decrease in Systolic blood pressure (SBP), Heart rate (HR), Cardiac Output (CO), Stroke volume (SV), Cardiac Index (CI) and Stroke volume Index (SI) was less significant (p<0.05).