Effect of Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi shodhana) on Blood Pressure among patients with hypertension

Alternate nostril breathing, one of the yogic techniques can produce different physiological changes in healthy individuals. The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of Alternate nostril breathing on Blood pressure among Patients with Hypertension. The objectives of the study were to assess the level of Blood pressure among Patients with Hypertension in the experimental and the control group, determine the effect of Alternate nostril breathing on Blood pressure among patients with Hypertension in the experimental group and find the association between the pre- test level of Blood pressure among Patients with Hypertension and selected socio- personal variables. Quantitative evaluative approach with quasi experimental non- equivalent pre-test post-test control group design was adopted for the study. Purposive sampling technique was used and 60 Hypertensive patients (30 in the experimental and 30 in the control group) were taken from Kannur Medical College Hospital. The subjects in the experimental group performed the Alternate nostril breathing for three weeks and no intervention to the control group. Systolic and Diastolic Blood pressure were recorded before and after the intervention. The results revealed that the mean post-test Blood pressure was lower than the mean pre-test Blood pressure in the experimental group (t=13.21, t=2.71, p<0.05 Systolic and Diastolic Blood pressure respectively). When comparing the effectiveness of Alternate nostril breathing in the experimental group with the control group, it was found that the significant difference in Systolic Blood pressure (t= 2.57, p<0.05) and also there was a significant association between Blood pressure and age, education and exercise. The finding of the study interpreted that the practice of Alternate nostril breathing (Nadi shodhana) is effective in reducing Blood pressure among patients with Hypertension. Considering the facts this technique can be suggested as a regular practice for combating with burden of Hypertension in the community with proper monitoring.