Effect of alternate nostril breathing (Anuloma – Viloma) on cardiovascular autonomic functions: A prospective study
Smitha Nagendrappa, S. Kumaraswamy, V. Ramalingaiah
National Journal of Physiology Pharmacy and Pharmacology 2024 DOI: 10.5455/njppp.2024.v14.i11.9 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Prospective pre-post intervention study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | Medical students |
| Intervention | Alternate nostril breathing |
| Duration | 3 months |
| Measures | Heart rate, heart rate variability indices, blood pressure, Galvanic skin response |
| Key points | After three months of supervised alternate nostril breathing, heart rate and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly, and cardiovascular autonomic parameters increased significantly. The authors argue that the practice shifts autonomic function toward parasympathetic control by synchronizing lung stretch receptors and baroreceptors with central autonomic regulatory networks, and suggest it may reduce stress and cardiovascular morbidity among medical students. |
Abstract
Background: Medical students are experiencing more stress than general population and much of research have indicated that various interventions like meditation, mindfulness are of help. It is known that stability of autonomic system is one of the indicators for stress reduction.
Aim: This prospective study was undertaken to know the effectiveness of alternate nostril breathing in bringing about such changes in cardiovascular autonomic functions.
Methods: Consenting 60 medical students were recruited and baseline parameters of cardiovascular autonomic functions like Heart rate, Heart rate variability indices, Blood pressure and Galvanic skin response were recorded using computerized-8-channel polygraph. Alternate Nostril Breathing was practiced by the participants under supervision for a duration of 3 months. At the end of the intervention, the study parameters were reassessed. Inferential statistical analysis was done by performing student‘t’ test (two tailed and dependent).
Results: The results of this study showed statistically significant decrease in Heart rate (p<0.001) and Diastolic Blood Pressure (p<0.005) after the intervention. It was also noted that there was statistically significant (p<0.001) increase in cardiovascular autonomic parameters.
Conclusion: Regular practice of alternate nostril breathing causes stretch receptors of lung and baroreceptors in aortic and carotid sinuses to synchronise with central autonomic regulatory network involving hypothalamus, prefrontal and limbic cortex. Hence alternate nostril breathing is a simple, practicable and effective meditation technique which alters cardiovascular autonomic functions towards parasympathetic control thus might reduce the stress and cardiovascular morbidity among medical students.