Effect of slow deep breathing (6 Breaths/Min) on pulmonary function in healthy volunteers

We designed this study to test the hypothesis that whether 10 minutes of slow deep breathing have any effect on pulmonary function in healthy volunteers. The main objective was to study the immediate effect of slow deep breathing on Forced vital capacity (FVC), Forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV₁), Forced expiratory volume percent (FEV₁/FVC%), Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), Forced expiratory flow 25–75% (FEF_25–75%), Maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), Slow vital capacity (SVC), Expiratory reserve volume (ERV), Inspiratory reserve volume (IRV) and Tidal volume (TV).

Following 5 minutes sitting rest in the lab, Forced vital capacity (FVC), Forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV₁), Forced expiratory volume percent (FEV₁/FVC%), Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), Forced expiratory flow 25–75% (FEF_25–75%), Maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), Slow vital capacity (SVC), Expiratory reserve volume (ERV), Inspiratory reserve volume (IRV) and Tidal volume (TV). The same parameters were recorded following Regular Spontaneous Breathing (RSB) and Slow Deep Breathing (6 breaths/min).

There was significant increase in FVC (p<0.0059), FEV₁ (p<0.026), PEFR (p<0.02), FEF_25–75% (p<0.0006), SVC (p<0.002), ERV (p<0.033), IRV (p<0.025) and TV (p<0.0001) after practicing SDB compared to RSB. Slow deep breathing may be used as a non-pharmaco therapeutic and safe modality, it can be used as an effective lifestyle adjunct to medical treatment to reduce drug dosage and improve quality of life of the patients.