Effect of Yoga on Mild to Moderate Hypertension

This study is undertaken to see whether practice of yoga can help in reducing hypertension which is an independent risk factor of coronary heart disease and also to check whether it can act as an adjunct to pharmacotherapeutic treatment in mild to moderate hypertension.

(1) To study the effect of selected asanas and pranayam on mild to moderate hypertension. (2) To study the socio-demographic profile among the study subjects.

The present study was conducted among 80 hypertensive patients trained in yoga at S-VYASA, Mysuru and 80 control group of hypertensive patients not practicing yoga attending Dept of cardiology, KR Hospital, Mysuru. The parameters assessed were Pulse Rate, Systolic Blood Pressure, Diastolic Blood Pressure and Pulse Pressure. They were measured at baseline (before start of yoga), at 12 weeks and 24 weeks of intervals.

The data was analyzed using paired and unpaired t test. Pulse rate, Systolic blood pressure, Diastolic blood pressure and pulse pressure were observed between yoga and control group. Statistically significant reduction were observed in Pulse Rate, Systolic Blood Pressure, Diastolic Blood Pressure and Pulse Pressure among yoga practitioners (p<0.001). These changes in blood pressure are probably due to reduced stress and decreased sympathetic activity attributable to Yoga.