Spontaneous respiratory modulation improves cardiovascular control in essential hypertension.
BACKGROUND
Recent studies show that controlled breathing improves baroreflex and heart rate variability and lowers blood pressure in hypertensive patients.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of slow breathing training on cardiorespiratory system modulation of patients (n=10, men and women, ages ranging from 45 to 60) with essential hypertension seen in an outpatient setting.


METHODS
According to the study design, each patient was used as his/her own control, and data were collected before and after the intervention. The following parameters were assessed: heart rate variability (HRV), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), respirometry, chest expansion measurement, and statistical data analysis. Respiratory training was performed in 30-minute sessions held twice a week over one month using slow breathing exercises.


RESULTS
Our results were as follows: a reduction in SBP, DPB, and MAP (p < 0.05 vs control); an increase in heart rate variability, as evidenced by greater RR interval variation and SDNN index; a decline in respiratory rate (p < 0.01 vs control); and an increase in tidal volume (p < 0.01 vs control) and thoracic expansibility (p < 0.01 vs control).


CONCLUSIONS
Respiratory retraining using the slow breathing technique appears to be a useful adjunctive for cardiorespiratory control in hypertensive patients.
Laboratório de Cardiopneumologia e Fisiologia do Exercício, Escola de Saúde Pública do Estado do Ceará, Universidade de Fortaleza, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil. fisiologia_carlos@yahoo.com.br
Carlos Hermano da Justa
CH
Pinheiro
Renato Antônio Ribeiro
RA
Medeiros
Denise Gonçalves Moura
DG
Pinheiro
Maria de Jesus Ferreira
Mde J
Marinho
D017704:Baroreflex / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012119:Respiration; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology*; D013990:Tidal Volume / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors