Impact of yoga practice on Cardiovascular Variables in Hypertensive Patients

Abstract

Introduction: The practice of yoga dates back over 2000 years to ancient India, with a focus on the unification of the mind, body, and spirit through the practice of physical movements, meditation and breathing exercises. The practice of yoga is a custom in India and has been reported to be beneficial for the patients with hypertension (HTN). Materials and Methods: This is a prospective, descriptive and observational study. Department of Physiology, Index Medical College, Hospital and Research center Indore. Period of study is from January 2020 to December 2021. Seventy hypertensive subjects on yoga therapy and Seventy hypertensive subjects on without yoga therapy was enrolled in this study. Both groups were advised to continue their regular medicines. Their Blood Pressure recorded at their first visit and thereafter before and after the yoga session after 1 week. Result: A total of 70 patients who fulfilled the selection criteria during the study were enrolled. Yoga group Mean Systolic Blood Pressureof pre-test 136.79 ± 6.76 mmHg (Mean±SD) is reduced to Post-test 129.65 ± 6.65mm of Hg (Mean±SD). In control group Mean Systolic Blood Pressure in pre-test 117.35 ± 5.67 mm of Hg and post-test 133.65 ± 6.12. However, the difference in Systolic Blood Pressure in Yoga Group is statistically significant. (P value < 0.05). Conclusion: The results imply that simple yoga exercises may beuseful as a supplementary BP therapy in addition to medical treatment when prescribed by primary care physicians. It is well known that physical activity has a BP lowering effect. A short Yoga program for patient to practice at home seems to have an antihypertensive effect, as well as a positive effect on self-rated quality of life and reduction of stress.