Breathing Technique can Lower Blood Pressure

There are a number of nonpharmacologic therapies that can lower blood pressure. Weight loss, stress reduction, salt restriction, regular exercise, biofeedback and even regular meditation have been shown to significantly reduce high blood pressure.

Specific breathing techniques also may reduce high blood pressure. Many of these breathing techniques have been used in meditation as well as martial art training for thousands of years. These breathing techniques were believed to increase lung capacity, enhance cardiac and circulatory function, reduce stress and promote an overall relaxed state of being.

In recent research from Brazil, published in the Archives of Brazilian Cardiology, participants with essential hypertension were able to significantly reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure by practicing specific breathing techniques daily for a month. These breathing exercises focused on breathing more slowly and deeply.

In this study, blood pressure dropped from an average of 135/99 to 124/81. In addition, total lung capacity also increased. This was the first study to show that practicing breathing exercises, over time, can reduce high blood pressure.

Zona Health will be offering a breathing and meditation program (along with nutrition, fitness and Zona Training) in it’s soon to be published book (The Zona Method) later this year.