Effect of Alternate Nostril Breathing Exercise Versus Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise on Blood Pressure, Heart Rate and Rate Pressure Product Among Patients with Hypertension: Randomized Clinical Trial

Hypertension is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, necessitating effective, non-pharmacological interventions. The need for this study arises from the growing interest in alternative therapies like controlled breathing exercises, which are simple, cost-effective, and non-invasive approaches to managing blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR). The background of this research highlights the physiological benefits of breathing techniques in autonomic regulation, stress reduction, and cardiovascular health. However, limited comparative studies exist on the efficacy of alternate nostril breathing (ANB) and diaphragmatic breathing (DB) in hypertensive individuals. This study introduces a novel approach by directly comparing ANB and DB to assess their effects on BP, HR, and rate pressure product (RPP), which reflects myocardial workload. The objective is to determine which technique yields greater cardiovascular benefits, providing evidence-based recommendations for hypertensive management. A randomized clinical trial was conducted on hypertensive patients aged 30-60 years, divided into two groups. Group A practiced ANB, while Group B performed DB, both for ten days. Pre- and post-intervention measurements of BP, HR, and RPP were analyzed to evaluate the effectiveness of each technique. The expected outcome includes a significant reduction in BP and HR, supporting the efficacy of structured breathing exercises in hypertension management. This study contributes to the scientific understanding of breathing interventions, potentially influencing clinical guidelines and offering a complementary strategy for individuals seeking holistic approaches to cardiovascular health. Hypertension is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, necessitating effective, non-pharmacological interventions. The need for this study arises from the growing interest in alternative therapies like controlled breathing exercises, which are simple, cost-effective, and non-invasive approaches to managing blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR). The background of this research highlights the physiological benefits of breathing techniques in autonomic regulation, stress reduction, and cardiovascular health. However, limited comparative studies exist on the efficacy of alternate nostril breathing (ANB) and diaphragmatic breathing (DB) in hypertensive individuals. This study introduces a novel approach by directly comparing ANB and DB to assess their effects on BP, HR, and rate pressure product (RPP), which reflects myocardial workload. The objective is to determine which technique yields greater cardiovascular benefits, providing evidence-based recommendations for hypertensive management. A randomized clinical trial was conducted on hypertensive patients aged 30-60 years, divided into two groups. Group A practiced ANB, while Group B performed DB, both for ten days. Pre- and post-intervention measurements of BP, HR, and RPP were analyzed to evaluate the effectiveness of each technique. The expected outcome includes a significant reduction in BP and HR, supporting the efficacy of structured breathing exercises in hypertension management. This study contributes to the scientific understanding of breathing interventions, potentially influencing clinical guidelines and offering a complementary strategy for individuals seeking holistic approaches to cardiovascular health.