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Effect of Yoga on Hypertension

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Narayana Medical Journal Volume-5 | Issue-1 | January-June 2016

Effect of Yoga on Hypertension

Vungarala.Satyanand1, Bhakthavatsala Reddy2, Shaik.Mahaboobvali3,
Dhivya Mohanan4, Shaik.Salma5, F.J.Nuzhath6
1
Professor, Department of Philosophy of Nature Cure, Narayana Yoga Naturopathy Medical College and
Hospital, Nellore-524002.(A.P.)India
2
Cardiologist, Department of Cardiology, Narayana Medical College & Hospital, Nellore - 524003,
A.P. India
3
Scientist, Department of Advanced Research Centre, Narayana Medical College & Hospital,
Nellore – 524003, A.P. India
4
Lecturer, Department of philosophy of Nature cure, Narayana Yoga Naturopathy Medical College and
Hospital, Nellore-524 002. (A.P.) India, 5Lecturer, Department of Yoga, Narayana Yoga Naturopathy
Medical College and Hospital, Nellore-524 002. (A.P.) India,
6
BNYS Final Year Student, Narayana Yoga Naturopathy Medical College and Hospital, Nellore-
524002.(A.P.)India
Corresponding author : Vungarala Satyanand, Email ID : drsatyanand@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Yoga is a remedy and highly effective in the treatment of high blood pressure. The present study
aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of yoga in the treatment of high blood pressure. 100 subjects
with complaints of high blood pressure attending the outpatient department of cardiology of
Narayana medical college and hospital, Nellore are recruited into the study and after obtaining
informed consent, yoga session was conducted in Narayana Yoga and Naturopathy Medical College
and Hospital for a period of 12 weeks. The same number of age/sex matched control group with
high blood pressure were also enrolled and kept without yoga techniques. During the period of
treatment the symptom relief in the subjects is assessed periodically by a sphygmomanometer.
Yoga is proved to be a best method to treat high blood pressure.

Introduction:
to uncontrolled Hypertension. [2] Cardiovascular
Now a day’s High blood pressure is one among diseases prevalence is high in Indians, among these
the leading contributors to burden of disease an important modifiable risk factor is hypertension.
globally. [1] Almost 80 million U.S adults are [3]
According to JNC-7, the definition of
suffering with High blood pressure currently. With hypertension is SBP as 140mmHg or higher or
less than half of those are having controlled DBP as 90mmHg or higher or both. Whereas
hypertension, 62% of Cardio vascular diseases <120mm of Hg as SBP and<80mm of Hg as DBP
and 49% of Ischemic heart disease are caused due is considered as normal blood pressure [4].Yoga is

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Narayana Medical Journal Volume-5 | Issue-1 | January-June 2016

derived from the Sanskrit word “YUJ”, means to Method and procedure:
attach, to join or to unite. According to Patanjali
The study was conducted with 100
Maharshi “yoga chitha vritti nirodhah”, means
subjects for a period of 3 months. The patients
yoga controls the activities of mind. [5]Yoga is a
were recruited from the Out Patient of cardiology
beneficial multifunctional therapeutic modality in
department and these patients were daily
the treatment of variety of psychological and
subjected to yoga session. The study protocol was
medical conditions such as depression, anxiety,
executed after approval by the Institutional Ethical
post traumatic stress disorder, hypertension,
Committee. Informed consent was obtained from
cardiovascular diseases, bronchial asthma,
study participants. All subjects were screened by
COPD, Diabetes Mellitus, hypercholesterolemia
taking a medical history and clinical examination.
etc. [4,5]In a research study, it states that yoga
modulates the physiological system of the body, The same number of age/sex matched
and effects specifically on the heart rate. This control group with high blood pressure were also
review is significant because yoga presents an enrolled and kept without yoga techniques. Both
effective method of treating hypertension that is groups were advised to continue their regular
non pharmacologic and therefore there are no medicines. Their Blood Pressure recorded at their
adverse effects and there are other valuable health first visit and thereafter before and after the yoga
benefits [6]. Stress is one of the predisposing factors session for every 5 days. The Blood Pressure
for hypertension. Hypertension is a leading risk measurements were recorded by using digital
factor for mortality and ranked 3rd as a cause of Blood Pressure apparatus with the subject seated.
disability adjusted life years. Yoga reduces the
cortisol levels thereby stress is reduced. Yoga Inclusion criteria: Adult patients suffering
promotes the flexibility of the arteries and reduces from obesity, hypertension and dyslipidemia
the rigidity of the arteries and also promotes the either singly or in combination, two or all the
free flow of blood in the arteries thus resulting in three, have been included in this study.
control of hypertension. [7] Meditation and Exclusion criteria: Patients suffering from
relaxation techniques offers a reduction in the
other disorders like liver disease, pulmonary
diastolic and systolic blood pressures during the
diseases, malabsorption, thyrotoxicosis,
mental stress [8].Several clinical trials investigated alcoholism and non-co-operative patients were
the efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions excluded from the study.
and lifestyle modifications to reduce blood
pressure [9]. Yoga has received a considerable Study protocol:
amount of study to date demonstrating significant
The subjects were asked to perform Yoga,
cardio-respiratory benefits [10-14]. The aim is to
which includes pranayama for 30 min and Yogic
investigate the effectiveness of yoga on the blood
Asana’s for another 30 min every day. The study
pressure in hypertensive patients.

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Narayana Medical Journal Volume-5 | Issue-1 | January-June 2016

was conducted with 100 subjects for a period of Anuloma Viloma (Alternate nostril
3 months. The Blood Pressure of the patients was breathing): sit in sukhasana. Close the right nostril
recorded in their first visit. They are asked to with the thumb, exhales through left nostril again
practice ardha matsyendrasana (2min), ardha inhale through left nostril. Close the left nostril
pavanmuktasana (2min), bidalasana (2min) and with the ring finger, retain the breath then exhale
uttaanpadasana (2min), Anuloma viloma (2min) through right nostril. Again inhales through right
followed by savasana (5min) every day for 30 nostril retain the breath then exhale through left
min. nostril. This is one round. Repeat for 10 rounds.

Matsyendrasana: Sit in Dandasana with Savasana (Relaxation posture): Lie on

forward stretching of the legs on the floor. Fold supine posture. Legs and hands apart. Be relaxed.
the right leg and keep under the left thigh then
After every five days Blood Pressure is
cross the left leg keep near the right knee .now
again recorded. This procedure is followed for 3
raise the left hand cross the left leg and catch hold
months. The Blood Pressure measurements were
the right ankle joint.
recorded by using digital B.P apparatus with the
Ardha pavanmuktasana: (Single knee subject seated. It was conducted at Narayana
bending). Lie on the supine posture, raise the Medical College and Hospital, Narayana Yoga
single leg and slowly bend the knee and try to Naturopathy Medical College and Hospital,
touch the forehead on the knee. Nellore, India. Statistical analysis was done by
using Z-test for comparison of two mean values.
Uttaanpadasana (straight leg raising): lie
P value < 0.05was considered as significant.
on the supine posture and slowly raise both the
legs straight without knee bending. Maintain for Result:
5 seconds with normal breathing. While exhaling
Total number of subjects included in this
slowly release both the legs without bending the
study was 100. These were no dropouts during
knees.
the treatment period. Before, during (every
Bidalasana: (Cat pose): sit in vajrasana weekend) and one week after completion of the
and kneel down on the floor with placing the treatment the observed average blood pressure
palms between the two knees, while inhaling arch scores were found to be as follows.
the spine and look towards the navel region. While
exhaling make a curve in the spine and look Among all the subjects before yoga, the
upwards .practice it for 5 times. Uttanapadasana: mean value of systolic blood pressure is 154.2 ±
(straight leg raising) Lie on supine posture and 8.2mmHg and mean diastolic blood pressure is
slowly raise the leg straight without knee bending. 100.3 ± 6.4mmHg and the mean BMI was
observed as 27.4 ± 2.1 kg/m2. In control group,
the mean value of systolic blood pressure is 155.3

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Narayana Medical Journal Volume-5 | Issue-1 | January-June 2016

± 9.6mmHg and mean diastolic blood pressure is group. Whereas, in control group, the mean
100.2 ± 8.2mmHg and the mean BMI was observed value of systolic blood pressure is 127.5 ±
as 27.1 ± 2.3 kg/m2. (Table1) 5.9mmHg and diastolic blood pressure is 84.4
After 3 months of yoga, the mean value of ± 4.1mmHg were observed after 3 months.
systolic blood pressure is 122.3 ± 4.3mmHg and (Figure 1)
diastolic blood pressure is 81.7 ± 4.5mmHg in yoga

Table 1. Blood pressure levels at each visit in control and yoga groups.

There was significant difference observed in SBP and DBP levels between first and last visit in
yoga and control group. But, DBP shows complete normal in yoga group than compare with control
group.(Table 2)

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Narayana Medical Journal Volume-5 | Issue-1 | January-June 2016

Table 2. Statistical analysis of blood pressure levels at first and last visit in control and yoga groups

Figure 1. Blood pressure levels at first visit and 12th week in control and yoga groups
Discussion: called as ‘silent killer’ because it doesn’t show
any symptoms and signs in earlier stage. When
Hypertension leads to heart attack, stroke, and
the blood pressure is high the feedback system
other cardiovascular events. Which is the
cannot maintain homeostasis because the heart is
condition, the pressure of the blood vessel walls
sending signals to the brain that it needs more
is high. It increases the work load of the heart
oxygen, there for the heart beats faster and harder
and it leads to hardening of the arteries, rupture
to get the extra oxygen needed possibly causing
of the vessel walls, and ailments of heart. Stress
higher blood pressure and this unable the heart’s
is a major reason for hypertension and modern
homeostasis.
day life, sedentary life, poor diet, can also induce
HTN individually. Hypertension is commonly

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Narayana Medical Journal Volume-5 | Issue-1 | January-June 2016

We suggested treatment for this disease include Conclusion:

yoga, life style modification, dietary changes,
Effects of yogasanas come in various forms in
withdrawal of alcohol& smoking and stress
physiological and psychological level. Although
management.
there have been many different studies in to the
Many proved studies show that yoga can reduce effects of meditation have been recently started
the blood pressure by effective and non-invasive to take notice by professionals in the field of the
way. It will achieve a balance between mind, body, medical science. The positive effect of asanas in
and soul and also it improves the energy levels of some cases is accepted and they have started to
the body. In yoga which includes asana, prescribe the use of meditation to the patients
Pranayama, meditation are also plays an important along with medicine. Although no ideal drugs or
role in reducing blood pressure. Apart from yoga method has so far been discovered in science
other vigorous exercise puts over action on which neutralize the offending factors or root
muscles and It will leads to stress on the whole cause of stress induced hypertension. This is non
cardiovascular system include heart pumping rate, invasive, non drug type of method advocated by
pressure of the blood vessels. In Sanskrit physicians which reduces blood pressure.
Pranayama meant ‘Art and science of breath’.
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