The Effects of Paced Breathing in Specific Respiration Rate on Heart Rate Variability : A Pilot Study

The Effects of Paced Breathing in Specific Respiration Rate on Heart Rate Variability Ji-Hwan Kim, Byoung-Soo Kim, Seong-Sik Park†, Yong-Jae Lee†, Na-Rae Keum†, Hyo-Sang Bae† Research Institute of Korean Medicine in College of Korean Medicine, Dongguk University †Department of Sasang Constitutional Medicine, Dongguk University Objectives We observed what effects of Paced Breathing(PB) in specific respiration rate have on heart rate variability (HRV) according to Sasang Constitution. Methods HRV of 72 healthy participants in sitting position was recorded while they carried out usual breathing, 0.2Hz, 0.1Hz, and 0.05Hz PB each 5 minutes in consecutive order. Five minute of relaxation was permitted between each breathing. Finally, HRV indices were statictically analyzed of 32 participants (SOEUM: 11, SOYANG: 10, TAEEUM: 11) after data out of accord with respiration rate or outliers were excluded. Results and Conclusions According to respiration rates, there was no statistical significance of HRV among Sasang Constitution. Regardless of Sasang Constituion, 0.2Hz PB increased mean heart rate and decreased natural logarithmic low frequency(lnLF) oscillation of HRV without the change of natural logarithmic high frequency(lnHF), while 0.1Hz PB increased lnLF and standard deviation of N-N interval(SDNN), and slightly decreased lnHF without the change of mean heart rate. 0.05 Hz PB also showed the same effect as 0.1Hz PB, but was impracticable.