Effect of breathing exercises on blood pressure and heart rate: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
PubMed 38179185 · doi:10.1016/j.ijcrp.2023.200232
What was done
A systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO: CRD42022316413) screened PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library for randomized clinical trials published between January 2017 and September 2022. The review evaluated breathing exercises (such as Pranayam, Bhramari, alternate nostril breathing, deep breathing, and slow breathing) on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) as primary outcomes, and heart rate (HR) as a secondary outcome.
What was found
Across 15 included randomized trials, breathing exercises significantly reduced: - Systolic blood pressure: -7.06 mm Hg (95% CI: -10.20 to -3.92, P < 0.01) - Diastolic blood pressure: -3.43 mm Hg (95% CI: -4.89 to -1.97, P < 0.01) - Heart rate: -2.41 beats/minute (95% CI: -4.53 to -0.30, P = 0.03)
Why it matters
Structured breathing practices provide a non-pharmacological means of achieving modest reductions in blood pressure and heart rate, supporting their use as lifestyle adjuncts for cardiovascular risk management.
Limits
The included studies carry risk of bias as noted by the authors. Total participant sample size, heterogeneity metrics, long-term sustainability, and intervention details/controls are not reported in the abstract. The search window was limited to 2017–2022.
Cited by
- supports Slow, controlled breathing can produce a 7-point drop in systolic blood pressure.