Religions, culture and healthcare: a practical guide for use in healthcare environments, Hollins Susan. Radcliffe Publishing, Abingdon UK (2006), (116pp.), ISBN: 10-85775-755-6, 13-978-1-85775-755-2

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of integrated yoga on blood pressure and pregnancy outcome in hypertensive disorder of pregnancy.Seventy-nine patients were randomized into study and control groups. The study group received the intervention in the form of integrated yoga for 4 weeks. Final analysis was done on 30 patients each of study and control group.The mean systolic BP declined by 7.43 ± 5.86 mmHg in the study group as compared to 2.50 ± 5.21 mm Hg in the control group (p value 0.002). The mean diastolic BP prior to delivery was 88.00 ± 3.71 mmHg in the study group and 92.20 ± 5.02 mmHg in the control group (p = 0.001). The maternal comfort in labor was significantly higher and the duration of labor significantly reduced in the study group.Integrated yoga effectively reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressures and increased maternal comfort during labor in hypertensive disorder of pregnancy.