Original Research Article
Year: 2016 | Month: October | Volume: 6 | Issue: 10 | Pages: 235-238
Comparative Study on Immediate Effect of Unilateral Left Nostril Breathing and Unilateral Right Nostril Breathing on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate among Healthy Volunteers
R. Jain Raj1*, R. Anusha2**, P. Asbin Birle3**
1Asst. Professor, 2Professor, 3Lecturer,
*Department of Community Medicine, **Department of Yoga Therapy,
Sree Ramakrishna Medical College of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences, Kulasekharam.
Corresponding Author: R. Jain Raj
ABSTRACT
Introduction: In this current scenario pranayama is observed as a proven effective method for health promotion and for disease prevention. Recently many studies on long duration with Unilateral nostril breathing have proven that it have specific autonomic functions. The present study was aimed to determine immediate effects on 15 minutes practice of unilateral right nostril breathing and unilateral left nostril breathing on blood pressure and heart rate.
Materials and Methods: 45 healthy volunteers were selected by systematic sampling from a pool of 200 Naturopathy and Yoga medical students enrolled in a naturopathic program. Again the 45 selected healthy volunteers were randomly assigned in 3 groups, 15 each in ULNB, URNB and Control group. The participants were of both sexes aged between 18 to 25 years. Each group underwent their particular breathing technique for a period of 15 minutes except control group with normal breathing. The outcomes measured were resting blood pressure and Heart rate for all the groups.
Results: Statistical analysis shows that reduction of systolic blood pressure in Left UNB (t 2.779, sig 2 tailed .015) and significant reduction of heart rate in Right UNB (t 2.380, sig 2 tailed .032). Also when compare among the groups heart rate of left UNB showed significant difference when compare with Right UNB (p value = .016) and control group (p value=. 044).
Discussion: ULNB for 15 minutes showed that a significant reduction of systolic blood pressure and significant difference in heart rate when compare with other groups it indicates that it may potentially have a role on managing hypertension. Large randomized control trials are necessary to prove the better results.
Key words: Unilateral nostril breathing, Heart rate, Blood Pressure, Pranayama, Hypertension.