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Updated: May 18, 2026
08:34
Investigation into Deep Breathing through Measurement of Ventilatory Parameters and Observation of Breathing Patterns
Published on: September 16, 2019
Paced breathing compared with usual breathing for hot flashes
Richa Sood1, Amit Sood, Sherry L Wolf
1Divisions of General Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Menopause (New York, N.Y.)
|September 20, 2012
Summary
Paced breathing exercises are feasible for reducing hot flashes. Practicing twice daily showed the most significant reduction, suggesting a potential therapeutic approach for managing hot flash symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Integrative Medicine
- Clinical Therapeutics
Background:
- Paced breathing, a form of slow, deep diaphragmatic breathing, is known to reduce sympathetic nervous system activity and promote relaxation.
- Hot flashes are a common and often disruptive symptom, particularly during menopause.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of two paced-breathing programs (once or twice daily) compared to usual breathing for hot flash management.
- To obtain initial efficacy estimates for paced breathing in reducing hot flash frequency and severity.
Main Methods:
- A 9-week, randomized, three-arm, parallel-group, blinded phase II clinical trial was conducted.
- Participants practiced paced breathing at 6 breaths/minute for 15 minutes (once or twice daily) or usual breathing for 10 minutes daily.
- Feasibility was assessed via questionnaires; efficacy was measured by changes in hot flash frequency and severity.
Main Results:
- 68% of eligible participants completed the study, with most finding the intervention easy to perform and of appropriate duration.
- Participants reported hot flash reductions across all groups: 52% for twice-daily paced breathing, 42% for once-daily paced breathing, and 46% for usual breathing.
- Paced breathing twice daily appeared most effective, though once-daily practice was also beneficial.
Conclusions:
- The paced-breathing intervention is feasible and well-tolerated by participants.
- Twice-daily paced breathing demonstrated the greatest reduction in hot flashes, suggesting a potential dose-response relationship.
- Further large-scale, placebo-controlled trials are needed to confirm the clinical efficacy and impact of paced breathing for hot flash reduction.
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