Comparison of Breathing Exercise for Hypertensive Patients

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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To determine the Effectiveness of diaphragmatic breathing vs. slow breathing techniques on blood pressure and Quality of life in adults with stage 1 hypertension. In accessible literature limited data was found on the comparison of different breathing techniques. The current study will compare the effect of slow vs. diaphragmatic breathing exercises and will demonstrate which one is more effective.

Detailed Description
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Literature reports that inspiratory muscle training is more effective in reducing Blood Pressure and voluntary diaphragmatic breathing at 10 or 6 breaths per minute for 10 min twice a day for 4 weeks is effective in producing positive outcomes in hypertensive patients.

Official Title
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Effectiveness of Diaphragmatic Breathing vs. Slow Breathing Techniques on Blood Pressure and Health-related Quality of Life in Adults With Stage 1 Hypertension

Conditions
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Hypertension

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Slow breathing exercise group
* Other: Diaphragmatic breathing exercise group


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Patient having stage 1 hypertension, Diagnosed after 1 week BP charting Exclusion Criteria: Patients taking antihypertensive medication Patient having comorbidities Smokers and women taking oral contraceptives

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 30 Years
Maximum Age: 60 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Slow breathing exercise group<br>Slow breathing 5-6 breaths/minute, 3 sets of 5 minutes 2 times/day for 4 weeks. | Other: Slow breathing exercise group<br>* The patient will be first asked to close one nostril with a thumb and slowly breathe in completely through the other for 6 seconds. This nostril will be then closed and the patient will exhale through the other nostril over a period of 6 seconds. These steps complete one breathing cycle. An attempt will be made to keep the breathing rate is about 5-6 breaths per minute. Such alternate nostril breathing cycles will be repeated continuously for a period of about 15 minutes (3 sets of 5 minutes) in one sitting.<br>|
| Experimental: Diaphragmatic breathing exercise group<br>Diaphragmatic breathing, 3 sets of 5 minutes 2 times/day for 4 weeks. | Other: Diaphragmatic breathing exercise group<br>* Patients would be instructed to Sit or lie down in a comfortable place and put their hands on their belly. Relax the muscles in their neck and shoulders. Breathe in slowly through the nose, keeping their mouth closed. Feel the lungs fill with air and inflate like a balloon while their belly moves outward. Such breathing cycles will be repeated continuously for a period of about 15 (3 sets of 5 minutes) minutes in one sitting.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Blood Pressure | Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). A blood pressure measurement has two numbers: The top number (systolic) is the pressure of the blood flow when your heart muscle contracts, pumping blood. The bottom number (diastolic) is the pressure measured between heartbeats. The patients are classified according to the range as follows. Hypertension stage 1 SYSTOLIC (mm of Hg): 121-139 DIASTOLIC (mm of Hg): 81-89 | 4 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Health related Quality of life | Measured through EuroQOL-five-dimensional-three-level (EQ-5D-3L) questionnaire which comprises the following five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Each dimension has 3 levels: no problems, some problems, and extreme problems. | 4 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Stage 1 hypertension, Diaphragmatic breathing, Slow breathing, Quality of life