Effect of Pranayams and Meditation on Autonomic Cardio-respiratory Variables in Normal Healthy Volunteers

Background: Yogic techniques produce consistent physiological changes in the body and have sound scientific basis.

Aims and objectives: The present study was designed to study the effect of pranayams and meditation on heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate and 40 mm endurance test.

Material and Methods: This study was done in Santosh Medical College, Ghaziabad. Ethical approval was taken from the research committee of the Institution. Fifty healthy male volunteers in the age group of 20-30 years were recruited for the study. Pranayams and meditation was done under yoga expert's supervision for 3 months. Cardio-respiratory parameters were recorded before and after 3 months of yoga training.ECG was done using RMS(Chandigarh) machine .Heart rate was calculated from the RR interval in lead II.Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured by auscultatory method with the help of mercury sphygmomanometer. Respiratory rate was counted for full one minute in resting supine position.40 mm endurance test was conducted by asking the subject to take in, a full breath and blow against the mercury column of sphygmomanometer, to the pressure of 40mm Hg, maintaining it as long as possible. The time for which the student could maintain the mercury level at 40mmHg was noted. Rate pressure product was calculated as HR XSBP/100 (mmHg/min).

Statistical analysis was done by ANOVA with SPSS version 17.0 using paired't' test. Results: Results showed that there was significant decrease in the heart rate, SBP, DBP, PP, MBP, RR and significant increase in 40 mm endurance test after 3 months of pranayams and meditation.

Conclusions: Pranayams and meditation are of beneficial value in improving the cardio-respiratory efficiency.