Abstract
Approximately one third of US patients are diagnosed with pre-hypertension, associated with significant health risks. Current treatment guidelines recommend lifestyle modification as first-line therapy for pre-hypertension, and a few recent studies have indicated the potential for mind-body therapies to reduce blood pressure in pre-hypertensive patients. Our study investigated the effect of daily practice of Pranayama, a group of yogic breathing exercises, on blood pressure of eight pre-hypertensive individuals. Participants received weekly Pranayama instruction and blood pressure measurements were obtained. Daily Pranayama practice resulted in statistically significant blood pressure reduction of 11 points (systolic) and 8 points (diastolic) between baseline and week six. Blood pressure measurements at week nine were similar to week six. The ease with which the technique of Pranayama can be learned and practiced by patients and its potential to significantly lower blood pressure makes this technique a promising non-pharmacologic tool for blood pressure reduction in pre-hypertensive patients.
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