Vol. 5, Issue 5, Part C (2019)

Aim: To study the immediate effect of slow and fast pranayama of blood pressure in prehypertensive postmenopausal women.

Need of study: Many studies have shown effect of slow and fast pranayama on blood pressure; hence both the pranayama have different effects on cardiovascular function. Therefore there is need to compare immediate effect of slow and fast pranayama on blood pressure in prehypertensive postmenopausal women.

Study design: Experimental study.

Procedure: Ethical approval was taken. Patients were divided in two groups with random allocation 6 Group 1 (n=30) patients practiced following group fast pranayama, Kapalbhati, Bhastrika, Kukkriya Group 2 (n=30) patients practiced following group of slow pranayama Nadishodhana, Pranava, Savitri. After coming to OPD patients were given 10 min of rest either in supine or sitting. Pre vitals were taken (systolic and diastolic BP) Pranayama training was given to the patients in a quiet room. Group 1 and group 2 subjects were given pranayama training. Post vitals were taken.

Result: data was analyzed by paired ‘t’ test for intra group comparison and unpaired ‘t’ test was done for inter group comparison. Statistical analysis shows that fast pranayama has more immediate effect on blood pressure in prehypertensive postmenopausal women.

Conclusion: The present study concludes that slow pranayama and fast pranayama have significant immediate effect in lowering systolic blood pressure. Also comparatively fast pranayama is more effective than slow pranayama in immediate lowering systolic blood pressure in prehypertensive postmenopausal women. However diastolic blood pressure remains unchanged in slow pranayama whereas it decreases slightly in fast pranayama as rate of breathing increases.