Resistance Breathing Training: Is this the safest way to lower blood pressure?

A joint study from the University of Arizona, the University of Colorado, and Alma College has found that resistance-breathing training can lower blood pressure just as much as exercising or medical intervention. 

Normally, patients with high blood pressure are directed by their physicians to change their diet or incorporate exercise into their routine. Medicines are then described as a final resort. 

Now, researchers are now looking to add resistance breathing training as a safe method to lower blood pressure levels. The process of resistance-breathing training involves breathing in and out through a small device known as a POWERbreathe for a couple of minutes daily. The device strengthens the breathing muscles by forcing the patient to push and pull air through it. Initially, the device was used to strengthen lung muscles in athletes and singers. 

During the study, several healthy volunteers trained with the device for a few minutes every day for six weeks. Each participant was instructed to breathe in and out with the device about 30 times every session. The volunteers also had their blood pressure measured before and after training. 

The researchers noted that volunteers had a sustained average drop of about 9 mmHg in systolic blood pressure (the top number in blood pressure readings). For healthy individuals, normal blood pressure is defined as 120/80. 

This change was described to have as much influence on blood pressure as on patients with medication. This drop was also consistent with patients that had started an aerobic exercise regimen such as running, cycling, or walking. 

Therefore, researchers suggest that the device could be used by patients of all ages who cannot exercise to safely lower their blood pressure levels. The study was published in the journal, Applied Physiology,