Impact of sheetali pranayama with kumbhaka on blood pressure and cerebrovascular hemodynamics in patients with hypertension: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Abstract

BackgroundHypertension is associated with sympathetic dominance and altered cerebrovascular structure, which in turn reduces cerebral blood flow. Literature suggests Sheetali pranayama reduces blood pressure and Kumbhaka (breath retention) increases cerebral blood flow. However, no studies reported effect of Sheetali with Kumbhaka on blood pressure and cerebrovascular hemodynamics. Thus, the objective of this study was to find the impact of Sheetali pranayama with Kumbhaka on blood pressure and cerebrovascular hemodynamics in patients with hypertension. Materials and methodsTwenty-four patients with hypertension aged 30–65 years were randomly allocated into pranayama group and control group. The pranayama group underwent Sheetali pranayama with Kumbhaka (with the ratio of 1:2:2; Inhalation; Kumbhaka: Exhalation respectively), whereas the control group underwent breath awareness for 10 minutes. Blood pressure and cerebrovascular hemodynamic were assessed before and after each intervention. ResultsResults showed a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p=0.049) in the pranayama group compared to control group. Likewise, within-group analysis showed a significant reduction in SBP (p = 0.002) and DBP (p = 0.007) in pranayama group; a significant reduction in SBP (p = 0.020) in control group; and no significant changes in rest of the variables in the post-test assessments compared to its respective pre-test assessments. ConclusionTen minutes of Sheetali pranayama with Kumbhaka reduces blood pressure compared to breath awareness, without affecting the cerebrovascular hemodynamics in patients with hypertension.