Pranayama Breathing and Uncontrolled Hypertension
Pranayama Breathing and Uncontrolled Hypertension
This study will compare participants who have uncontrolled hypertension and perform a set of
 five breathing exercises (Pranayama breathing) to a control group. The purpose of the study
 is to determine the effect of the breathing exercises on reduction of blood pressure.
Untreated or uncontrolled hypertension is a leading cause of heart disease, stroke, and
 kidney failure. Hypertension, is a modifiable risk factor that may be successfully treated
 using one or a combination of treatment options, including medication, diet, exercise,
 tobacco cessation, or complementary and alternative medicine such as breathing exercises. A
 well-established cascade of adverse health outcomes are associated with hypertension as well
 as increased mortality rates. For patient-centered care, providing patients with additional
 strategies for their health care also has the potential to empower the patient, augment
 patient-physician team approach to the patient's health care, and support the standards of
 care for treating hypertension. As explained by McCaffrey et al from their focus group work
 with patients, "Participants do not want prescription medications except as a last resort and
 feel that conventional medicine overemphasizes prescription medicines. This may be because of
 a combination of factors including distrust in conventional medicine, fear of side effects
 from medicines, and an underlying belief that the body can heal itself given the right
 nutrition, rest, and time"

 Using a randomized controlled trial study design with a 1-month and 3-month follow-up, the
 investigators hypothesize that practicing breathing at least 5 times per week will show a
 mean reduction in systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures in uncontrolled
 hypertensive patients compared to control patients. Participants will be randomized into one
 of three arms of the study. For the intervention arm, participants will be either assigned to
 a weekly class for the pranayama breathing instruction and practice or given a DVD that
 contains instructions on the breathing exercises and the 15-minute practice session.
Inclusion Criteria

 -  English-speaking adults

 -  less than 60 years of age with BP measurements of ≥140/ ≥90 mm Hg

 -  60 years of age or older with BP measurements of ≥150/ ≥90 mm Hg

 -  diagnosed with diabetes with BP measurements of ≥140/ ≥90 mm Hg

 -  Patients with BP measurements of <180/ <110 mm Hg without hypertensive urgency
 symptoms

 Exclusion Criteria:

 comorbidities of COPD, renal disease or chronic alcoholism

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