Effectiveness of diaphragmatic breathing exercise and Jacobson’s progressive muscle relaxation on cardio pulmonary parameters in pre-hypertensive patients

Abstract

Background: Hypertension, also known as high or raised blood pressure, is a condition in which the blood vessels have persistently raised pressure. One of the potential risk factors of prehypertension is anxiety and it has already well known that cortisol is a marker of anxiety. There are some non-pharmacologic methods to relive anxiety; exercise and relaxation. The study was to assess the effect of diaphragmatic breathing exercise and diaphragmatic breathing exercise combined with Jacobson relaxation technique on cardiopulmonary parameters in pre-hypertensive patients. Methodology: A total of 40 subjects aged 18 to 40 years, diagnosed with prehypertension were included in the study. Eligible subjects were allocated to two groups i.e., Diaphragmatic breathing exercise group and Jacobson relaxation with diaphragmatic breathing exercise group. Intervention was given for 8 weeks and after that cardiopulmonary parameters such as blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate were assessed. Results: In pre-hypertensive patients diaphragmatic breathing exercise group found significant difference after giving the intervention within the group (P