Premium
Slow breathing reductions in mean arterial pressure are dependent on psychological characteristics
Author(s) -
Kelly Kevin L,
Lin Jeff,
Poteracki James M,
Adams Katelynn M,
Kelly Catherine A,
Wegner Brian J,
Newhouse Lauren P,
Moser Jason S,
Wehrwein Erica A
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.1238.11
Subject(s) - breathing , blood pressure , respiratory rate , heart rate , cardiology , mean arterial pressure , medicine , ventilation (architecture) , respiratory system , anesthesia , physics , thermodynamics
Slow‐paced breathing has been reported to reduce blood pressure, but there are conflicting results over the efficacy of device guided (DG) vs self‐paced (SP) slow breathing. We hypothesized that a reduction in breathing rate is not the only factor contributing to changes in autonomic and cardiovascular parameters, but there is an interaction between the methods (SP vs DG) and psychology of the user that influence outcomes. Comparison of DG (n=10) and SP (n=11) slow breathing in young healthy males showed that psychological traits were correlated with reductions in mean arterial pressure (MAP) differentially. At baseline, there was no difference in breathing rate between SP and DG (14.36±1.03 vs 15.39±1.29 breaths per minute, p=0.27) and respiratory rate was reduced to 8.36±0.74 breaths per minute (BPM) in the SP group (p<0.01) and to 6.37±0.10 BPM in the DG group (p<0.01). The two groups differed significantly during slow breathing (p<0.01 between groups). With respect to our primary hypothesis, lower trait anxiety was related to reductions in MAP in the SP group (r=0.452, p=0.081), but marginal increases in the DG group (r=−0.301, p=0.199). Higher reported cognitive functions were related to decreases in in MAP in the SP group (r=−0.498, p=0.059), but not in the DG group (r=0.092, p=0.400). Finally, the tendency be aware of one's surrounding was related to decreases in MAP in the SP group (r=0.683, p=0.010), but an opposing increase in MAP in the DG group (r=−0.472, p=0.084). SP and DG are inherently different and are highly influenced by psychological characteristics. Future use of these two breathing techniques to reduce blood pressure should take into account individual differences in psychological characteristics in order to maximize benefits.