62 Participants Needed

Pranayama for Hypertension in Pregnancy

Recruiting at 1 trial location
BS
SB
Overseen ByShilpa Babbar, MD
Age: 18+
Sex: Female
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Trial Summary

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. It mentions that participants can have hypertension with or without using antihypertensive medications, so it seems you may continue your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of this treatment for hypertension in pregnancy?

Research shows that various breathing exercises, like alternate nostril breathing and Bhramari pranayama, can lower blood pressure in people with hypertension. These exercises help calm the body and may be beneficial for managing high blood pressure during pregnancy.12345

Is pranayama safe for humans?

Research on various pranayama techniques, such as alternate nostril breathing and Bhramari pranayama, suggests they are generally safe for humans, as they have been shown to reduce blood pressure and heart rate without adverse effects.12467

How does the treatment of Pranayama breathing techniques differ from other treatments for hypertension in pregnancy?

Pranayama breathing techniques, such as Alternate Nostril Breathing and Bhramari Breathing, offer a unique approach by focusing on controlled breathing exercises to manage hypertension (high blood pressure) in pregnancy, unlike other treatments that may involve physical exercises like walking or stretching. These techniques are non-invasive and can be practiced anywhere, providing a natural way to potentially reduce stress and improve blood pressure without medication.89101112

What is the purpose of this trial?

Slow deep breathing actives the vagal nerve and leads to a natural reduction in physiological parameters such as blood pressure, heart rate and digestion. The effects of these techniques have not been assessed in pregnancy. The primary objective is to assess the effects of various yogic deep breathing techniques on blood pressure during pregnancy. The breathing exercises will include Alternate nostril breathing, Bhramari breathing, and Sheetali breathing. A secondary objective will be to assess the effects of these breathing exercises on other physiological parameters including heart rate, heart rate variability, body temperature, cardiac output, vascular resistance and respiratory rate.

Research Team

SB

Shilpa Babbar, MD

Principal Investigator

Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for English-speaking pregnant women over 18 years old in their third trimester with high blood pressure, either gestational hypertension or chronic hypertension without severe features. It's not for those needing urgent delivery, with pre-eclampsia concerns, severe lung disease, deviated nasal septum, difficulty breathing through the nose, or very low blood pressure.

Inclusion Criteria

For Phase II only: You have had consistently high blood pressure before or during the early stages of pregnancy, and may or may not be taking medication for it.
I have high blood pressure during pregnancy without organ damage.
I have preeclampsia without severe symptoms.

Exclusion Criteria

I have trouble breathing through my nose.
I have a deviated septum.
I have an ongoing or recent lung condition.
See 6 more

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Phase I

Normotensive pregnant women engage in a 15-minute deep breathing technique session with monitoring

1 visit
1 visit (in-person)

Phase II

Hypertensive pregnant women engage in a 15-minute deep breathing technique session with monitoring

1 visit
1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the intervention

1-2 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • Alternate Nostril Breathing
  • Bhramari Breathing
  • Sheetali Breathing
Trial Overview The study tests how Alternate Nostril Breathing, Bhramari Breathing, and Sheetali Breathing affect blood pressure during pregnancy. It also looks at other physiological parameters like heart rate and respiratory rate to see if these yogic techniques can naturally reduce them.
Participant Groups
6Treatment groups
Active Control
Group I: Sheetali Breathing Phase IIActive Control1 Intervention
Sheetali breathing for hypertensive women in 3rd trimester of pregnancy
Group II: Sheetali Breathing Phase IActive Control1 Intervention
Sheetali breathing for normotensive women in 3rd trimester of pregnancy
Group III: Alternate Nostril Breathing Phase IIActive Control1 Intervention
Alternate nostril breathing for hypertensive women in 3rd trimester of pregnancy
Group IV: Alternate Nostril Breathing Phase IActive Control1 Intervention
Alternate nostril breathing for normotensive women in 3rd trimester of pregnancy
Group V: Bhramari Breathing Phase IActive Control1 Intervention
Bhramari breathing for normotensive women in 3rd trimester of pregnancy
Group VI: Bhramari Breathing Phase IIActive Control1 Intervention
Bhramari breathing for hypertensive women in 3rd trimester of pregnancy

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City

Lead Sponsor

Trials
261
Recruited
941,000+

Findings from Research

In a study of 90 participants with essential hypertension, practicing alternate nostril yoga breathing significantly reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure and improved performance on the Purdue pegboard task, indicating enhanced manual dexterity and coordination.
The findings suggest that alternate nostril breathing not only lowers blood pressure but also positively impacts tasks requiring attention and coordination, making it a beneficial practice for individuals with hypertension.
Blood pressure and Purdue pegboard scores in individuals with hypertension after alternate nostril breathing, breath awareness, and no intervention.Telles, S., Yadav, A., Kumar, N., et al.[2021]
In a study of 100 patients with hypertension, practicing Sheetali pranayama for 3 months led to a significant reduction in blood pressure compared to a control group, indicating its efficacy as a complementary intervention.
The intervention also improved heart rate variability, suggesting enhanced parasympathetic activity, which is beneficial for cardiovascular health in hypertensive patients.
Effect of Sheetali pranayama on cardiac autonomic function among patients with primary hypertension - A randomized controlled trial.Thanalakshmi, J., Maheshkumar, K., Kannan, R., et al.[2020]
Pranayama, or yoga breathing exercises, can lead to significant reductions in blood pressure, with acute studies showing a mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) reduction of 2-10 mmHg and chronic studies showing reductions of 4-21 mmHg, based on a review of 13 trials.
The most effective pranayama techniques for lowering blood pressure involve slower breathing rhythms and left nostril breathing, suggesting these methods should be prioritized for hypertensive patients, despite the overall low quality of the studies reviewed.
The hypotensive effect of Yoga's breathing exercises: A systematic review.Brandani, JZ., Mizuno, J., Ciolac, EG., et al.[2018]

References

Blood pressure and Purdue pegboard scores in individuals with hypertension after alternate nostril breathing, breath awareness, and no intervention. [2021]
Effect of Sheetali pranayama on cardiac autonomic function among patients with primary hypertension - A randomized controlled trial. [2020]
The hypotensive effect of Yoga's breathing exercises: A systematic review. [2018]
Immediate effect of a slow pace breathing exercise Bhramari pranayama on blood pressure and heart rate. [2022]
Immediate cardiovascular effects of pranava pranayama in hypertensive patients. [2022]
Immediate effect of chandra nadi pranayama (left unilateral forced nostril breathing) on cardiovascular parameters in hypertensive patients. [2022]
Immediate autonomic changes during right nostril breathing and left nostril breathing in regular yoga practitioners. [2022]
Pre-eclampsia and nasal CPAP: part 2. Hypertension during pregnancy, chronic snoring, and early nasal CPAP intervention. [2022]
The effect of stretching exercise and walking on changes of blood pressure in nulliparous women. [2020]
Plasma nitric oxide levels in pregnant patients with preeclampsia and essential hypertension. [2022]
The effects of progressive muscular relaxation and breathing control technique on blood pressure during pregnancy. [2020]
The effect of walking on pregnancy blood pressure disorders in women susceptible to pregnancy hypertension: A randomized clinical trial. [2020]
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