Immediate effect of short duration of slow deep breathing on heart rate variability in healthy adults

Abstract

Background: Various types of breathing exercises have various effects on autonomic nervous system like fast breathing increases sympathetic tone and slow breathing increases parasympathetic tone. But these changes are seen when those exercises are done for long duration. Heart rate variability (HRV) reveals the autonomic status very effectively. So took up the study to know the effects of short duration (5 min) of slow deep breathing on heart rate variability Aims & Objective: To study the HRV Before and after five minutes of slow deep breathing in healthy adults. Materials and Methods: 20 healthy adults aged between 30 to 40 years and not practicing any kind of breathing exercises or yoga were involved in the study. Using powerlab, AD Instrument polyrite, HRV was calculated by recording ECG in Lead II for five minutes. Then the participants were made to slow deep breathe for 5 minutes, again HRV was calculated. The time domain parameters of HRV studied were Standard deviation of all normal-to-normal intervals in milliseconds (SDNN) and Root Mean Square Successive Difference in milliseconds (RMSSD). The frequency domain parameters studied were low frequency in normalized units (LF nu), high frequency in normalized units (HFnu) and the ratio of LF to HF (LF/HF ratio). Data was analysed by paired t test. Results: Heart rate did not show much of variation. There was significant increase in LFnu (46.91±14.51, 60.79±17.29 and p 0.009), decrease in HFnu (43.56±17.59, 30.17±13.52 and p 0.002), increase in LF/HF ratio (1.43±0.84, 3.06±3.22 and p 0.03). SDNN and RMSSD did not show significant change. Conclusion: Effect of slow deep breathing for a short duration of five minutes in healthy adults who are not practicing any kind of breathing exercise or yoga is shift of the cardiac sympathovagal balance towards the sympathetic predominance.

Effects of sleep deprivation and 4‐7‐8 breathing control on heart rate variability, blood pressure, blood glucose, and endothelial function in healthy young adults

“…RMSSD, which is the principal time domain of HRV, reflects the parasympathetic activity and is associated with high‐frequency power (Shaffer and Ginsberg, 2017). Our results are consistent with the findings of a study by Chinagudi et al (2014), who reported that after slow and deep breathing at 6 breaths/min (inhale:exhale = 1:1), RMSSD decreased (not significant). As the participants were experiencing slow deep breathing exercises for the first time, their sympathetic system's fight‐or‐flight response may have been activated.…”

“…These data could confirm that slow breathing control enhances parasympathetic activity and lowers BP. However, Chinagudi et al (2014) demonstrated that in healthy adults with sympathetic predominance, high‐frequency power in normalized units significantly decreased, whereas low‐frequency power in normalized units and low‐ to high‐frequency ratio significantly increased after slow and deep breathing at 6 breaths/min for 5 min. However, in their study, the inhale/exhale ratio was 1.…”

“…The 4‐7‐8 breathing control, which is based on an ancient yogic technique called pranayama, aims at reducing anxiety and facilitating easier sleep (Russo et al, 2017). Short‐term slow breathing reduces oxygen consumption, HR, and BP, increases the amplitude of theta and delta waves (which indicate predominant parasympathetic tone), decreases the sympathetic activity, and improves the sympathovagal balance (Chinagudi et al, 2014). Furthermore, long‐term slow breathing reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus and improves pulmonary function (Jerath et al, 2006; Russo et al, 2017).…”

A Study on the Effects of Breathing Cycle Training Technique Together with Dzikr Recitation towards Achievement of Students' HRV

“…When the exercise was done regularly for long duration, slowly sympathetic system tone decreased and parasympathetic tone increased. [13] HRV increases as parasympathetic effect increases until it reaches a plateau level. Beyond this level, HRV actually decreases with further increases in parasympathetic effect.…”

The breathing brain: The potential of neural oscillations for the understanding of respiratory perception in health and disease

“…Specifically, the breathing rate of six breaths per minute (0.1 Hz), also known as resonance breathing, is considered to be optimal to increase baroreceptor activity and heart rate variability (HRV), which are associated with increased resilience and higher positive affect (Lehrer & Gevirtz, 2014; Mather & Thayer, 2018; Van Diest et al., 2014). It has been found that even a brief engagement in SDB can lead to increased baroreceptor activity and HRV (Chinagudi et al., 2014; Courtois et al., 2020; Gholamrezaei et al., 2019), decreased effects of painful stimulation (Chalaye et al., 2009), and increased lung capacity (Shravya et al., 2013). Importantly, the neural effects have also been investigated, finding resonant slow cortical potentials at 0.1 Hz (Hinterberger et al., 2019), as well as globally heightened spontaneous alpha activity already after a few minutes of SDB (Cheng et al., 2018; Fumoto et al., 2004; Komori, 2018; Yu et al., 2011).…”