title: Effects of pranayam breathing on respiratory pressures and sympathovagal balance of patients with chronic airflow limitation and in control subjects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to compare the effects of Pranayam breathing on respiratory muscle strength measured as maximum expiratory and inspiratory pressures (MEP and MIP) and relevant spirometry parameters in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in control subjects, and on the sympatho-vagal balance in both the groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  The research was performed in the Clinical Physiology Department, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman. Eleven patients (mean age 43.91 ± 20.56 yr; mean BMI 21.9 ± 5.5 kg/m(2)) and 6 controls (43.5 ± 14.6yr; 25.4 ± 3.2 kg/m(2)) learnt and practised Pranayam. Their respiratory and cardiovascular parameters were recorded. Their respiratory "well being" was noted as a visual analogue score (VAS). The respiratory parameters were expressed as a percentage change of predicted values.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients' respiratory parameters were significantly lower than those of controls. Patients' maximum respiratory pressures did not improve after Pranayam; however, they showed significant improvement in VAS 5.4 ± 2.4 to 7.2 ± 1.2 (P < 0.03). Controls showed significant increase in MIP after Pranayam exercises. There were no changes in other spirometry indices. Controls showed significant increase in their systolic blood pressure and stroke index after exercise. The vago-sympathetic balance shifted towards sympathetic in both patients and controls after exercise.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The improvement in MIP in controls indicated the positive effect of Pranayam exercise; however, it may not be an adequately stressful exercise to produce changes in the respiratory parameters of COPD patients. The increase in VAS in patients suggested improvement in respiratory distress and quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Physiology.
authors.forename: Deepali S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Jaju
authors.forename: Mohan B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Dikshit
authors.forename: Jothi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Balaji
authors.forename: Jyoji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Syed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rizvi
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Al-Rawas