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5-min breathing workout lowers blood pressure as much as exercise, drugs (2021)

colorado.edu

21–30 of 244 posts

Re: 5-min breathing workout lowers blood pressure as much as exercise, drugs (2021)

#21
post #5

The article mentions that the device is used during the inhale. Doesn't clarify if it's also used during the exhale or not. (I just rolled-up my fist and breathed through it. And it provided lots of resistance. So it looks like I might be able to make this work with just my fist.) If anyone knows, please hit reply and let me know.

Don't know for sure but from skimming the paper it looks like it's inhalation only. "Inspiratory muscle strength training (IMST) is an alternative form of physical training that uses the diaphragm and accessory respiratory muscles to repeatedly inhale against resistance." The words "exhale," "expire," and their various inflected forms don't appear anywhere in the paper.

Re: 5-min breathing workout lowers blood pressure as much as exercise, drugs (2021)

#22
Okay, so I have some straight up anecdotal evidence done with a real blood pressure cuff by a trained medical professional for a related phenomenon.

I have to get a buprenorphine injection monthly.

As a part of this, they take my blood pressure.

I was talking to the nurse, animatedly about the silly policies our state government has around electric scooters, as she was taking my blood pressure.

She didn't read out both for me, but I initially had "135" as the result.

The nurse got me to take 5 minutes doing a guided (heavy) breathing and relaxation protocol, and sure enough, on running the blood pressure test again, I got "118"

Re: 5-min breathing workout lowers blood pressure as much as exercise, drugs (2021)

#24
post #22

Okay, so I have some straight up anecdotal evidence done with a real blood pressure cuff by a trained medical professional for a related phenomenon. I have to get a buprenorphine injection monthly. As a part of this, they take my blood pressure. I was talking to the nurse, animatedly about the silly policies our state government has around electric scooters, as she was taking my blood pressure. She didn't read out bo…

No post body was provided.

Re: 5-min breathing workout lowers blood pressure as much as exercise, drugs (2021)

#25
post #13

Any idea on how to do this without the device? Probably someone with Pranayama can comment - to me this seems a modification of anuloma-viloma (alternate nostril breathing).

I bought this one for this purpose and it seems to work. ($25) https://www.amazon.com/Expand-A-Lung-BD12512-Breathing-Fitne...

Re: 5-min breathing workout lowers blood pressure as much as exercise, drugs (2021)

#26
post #21
post #5

The article mentions that the device is used during the inhale. Doesn't clarify if it's also used during the exhale or not. (I just rolled-up my fist and breathed through it. And it provided lots of resistance. So it looks like I might be able to make this work with just my fist.) If anyone knows, please hit reply and let me know.

Don't know for sure but from skimming the paper it looks like it's inhalation only. "Inspiratory muscle strength training (IMST) is an alternative form of physical training that uses the diaphragm and accessory respiratory muscles to repeatedly inhale against resistance." The words "exhale," "expire," and their various inflected forms don't appear anywhere in the paper.

Thanks.

Re: 5-min breathing workout lowers blood pressure as much as exercise, drugs (2021)

#27
My wife has white coat syndrome.

There was a time (~7 years ago). We were living in NYC. The doctors office was at the top of 5 flights of stairs and the elevator was out. Having just climbed 5 flights of stairs and telling the doctor she has white coat syndrome, they _immediately_ take her blood pressure. Noting it’s (unsurprisingly) high, suggests she go on blood pressure medication. A decision that would surely have damaged her health.

4 years ago, we told her OBGYN she had white coat syndrome. We got a blood pressure cuff to use at home that recorded every reading (including date/time) so we could bring it in to her. Every reading at home, out and about, was good - even borderline low. At the doctors office, it was always high. The doctor, knowing this, STILL tried to suggest we induce early labor.

TL;DR - doctors will kill you. Your health is your own - don’t delegate the most important decision in your life.

Re: 5-min breathing workout lowers blood pressure as much as exercise, drugs (2021)

#28
post #13

Any idea on how to do this without the device? Probably someone with Pranayama can comment - to me this seems a modification of anuloma-viloma (alternate nostril breathing).

I bought this one for this purpose and it seems to work. ($25) https://www.amazon.com/Expand-A-Lung-BD12512-Breathing-Fitne...

I'm curious how breathing with this device compares with breathing through the nose

Re: 5-min breathing workout lowers blood pressure as much as exercise, drugs (2021)

#29
I've been using a Powerbreathe for inspiratory muscle training. The daily exercise only takes a few minutes. But it requires occasional cleaning, and the spring valve sometimes gets stuck closed. I haven't noticed any obvious decrease in blood pressure.

https://www.powerbreathe.com/product-category/breathing-trai...

Re: 5-min breathing workout lowers blood pressure as much as exercise, drugs (2021)

#30
post #22

Okay, so I have some straight up anecdotal evidence done with a real blood pressure cuff by a trained medical professional for a related phenomenon. I have to get a buprenorphine injection monthly. As a part of this, they take my blood pressure. I was talking to the nurse, animatedly about the silly policies our state government has around electric scooters, as she was taking my blood pressure. She didn't read out bo…

IIRC standard protocol is (don't know how closely adhered to) to give the patient a 5 minute resting period before doing a BP reading anyway.
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