Pranayama benefits heart too

Pranayama, the traditional controlled breathing exercise, can strengthen your heart as well as your lungs.

A new study published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research by ICMR says the regular practice of slow breathing has been shown to improve cardiovascular and respiratory functions and to decrease the effects of stress. The study, done by Mumbaibased pharmacologists, found that the first change is reduction of ‘ sympathetic tone’, which would have a positive effect on organs like the heart and lungs.

Eleven healthy volunteers were categorised into the pranayama group and nonpranayama control group. The pranayama volunteers were trained in AnulomaViloma pranayama with Kumbhak. Pulse, Galvanic Skin Resistance, blood pressure and pulmonary function tests were measured before and after the 7day programme in all of them.

According to the researchers, statistically significant changes were observed in the pranayama group volunteers in the GSR values during standing phases, indicating that regular practice of Pranayama causes a reduction in the ‘sympathetic tone’ within a period as short as 7 days.

Dr P.L.N Kapardhi, an intervention cardiologist at Apollo hospitals, says, “Pranayama helps improve cardiac function and lung capacity. It regularises the rhythm of the heart. The rhythmic disturbance of the heart can be prevented by reducing ‘sympathetic tone’. It also improves oxygenation of the blood.”