How does deep breathing affect office blood pressure and pulse rate?

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Clinical Measurement Science

Background:

• The relationship between deep breathing (DB) and blood pressure (BP) is not well-established.
• Accurate blood pressure measurement is crucial for diagnosing and managing hypertension.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of deep breathing on blood pressure in a large Japanese population.
• To determine if deep breathing influences blood pressure readings during clinical measurement.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 21,563 subjects divided into two groups: one performing 6 deep breaths over 30 seconds, and a control group resting for 30 seconds.
• Blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) and pulse rate were measured before and after the intervention in both groups.
• Subjects underwent a minimum of 12 minutes of rest prior to measurements.

Main Results:

• Both deep breathing and simple rest significantly reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and pulse rate (PR) compared to baseline.
• SBP reductions were significantly greater in the deep breathing group compared to the rest group across normotensive and hypertensive subgroups.
• Blood pressure reduction was dependent on baseline blood pressure, with larger reductions observed in individuals with higher initial BP.

Conclusions:

• Deep breathing causes a baseline blood pressure-dependent reduction in blood pressure.
• To ensure accurate blood pressure readings, deep breathing should be avoided during measurement in clinical settings.