Treating Hypertension With Breath Control

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to determine if blood pressure can be reduced in hypertensive subjects by regularising and slowing their breathing. This may be a safe and affordable complementary treatment for hypertension.

Detailed Description
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This is a randomised controlled trial in which hypertensive subjects allocated to receive either a CD with relaxation music or one with the same music plus certain sound cues to guide the listener on when to breathe. The subjects will continue with their normal medications and the intervention will last 2 months.

Official Title
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A Randomized Controlled Trial to Treat Hypertension by Regularising and Slowing Breathing

Conditions
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Hypertension

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Breath control


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Above 18 years old Patients with essential hypertension Systolic BP from 140 to 159 mm Hg Diastolic BP from 90 to 99 mm Hg On hypertensive medication for at least 3 months before the study Hypertensive medication unchanged during the 3 months before the study Patients able to fill in a log sheet Exclusion Criteria: ischaemic heart disease congestive heart failure cardiac arrhythmias renal failure diabetes mellitus previous stroke major organ failure cigarette smoking respiratory diseases psychiatric disorders severe obesity (BMI >35 kg/m2) hearing impairment unable to operate a CD player or do not have access to a CD player arm circumference <22 cm. or >42 cm.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 19 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: Breath control<br>A music CD with sound cues is used to guide the subject to breathe in a regular and slower rate. This is practiced for at least 15 minutes a day over 2 months. | Behavioral: Breath control<br>* A music CD with sound cues is used to guide the subject to breathe in a regular and slower rate. This is practiced for at least 15 minutes a day over 2 months.<br>* Other names: slow breathing;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Diastolic blood pressure | Change in diastolic blood pressure from baseline to end value at 2 months. | 2 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Systolic blood presure | Change in systolic blood pressure from baseline to end value at 2 months. | 2 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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hypertension, high blood pressure, treatment, breath control, breathing exercise, audio CD