Suryanadi Pranayama (Right Unilateral Nostril Breathing) May be Safe for Hypertensives

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have suggested that exclusive right uni-nostril breathing known as suryanadi pranayama (SNP) has sympathomimetic effects and hence, the present study was designed to determine immediate effects of 27 rounds of SNP on cardiovascular parameters in patients of essential hypertension (HT). This has clinical significance in determining whether such a potentially sympathomimetic practice is safe in such a population. Materials and methods: Twenty hypertensive patients on standard medical management were taught to perform SNP by qualified yoga instructors. Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were recorded after 5 minutes of rest in sitting posture and after 27 rounds of SNP. All data passed normality testing and hence was analyzed using Students t test for paired data. Results: Statistical analysis revealed no statistically significant changes in any of the parameters following SNP. Gender based sub analysis of Δ% following SNP revealed no significant differences between male and female subjects. Discussion: The absence of any significant increase in HR or BP following SNP goes against earlier theories that it may be dangerous for hypertensive patients due to its sympathomimetic nature. SNP may not be increasing HR and BP in our subjects because they already had reached a certain threshold of reactivity. The goal of yoga is to restore homeostasis. Hence, if sympathetic reactivity of a subject is already higher than normal, yogic techniques will not further increase such a hyper reactivity but rather bring it back to normal. The small 1-2% decrease in most parameters in our study gives a hint of this possibility. In conclusion, our study offers evidence that exclusive right nostril breathing as performed in SNP may be safe in patients of HT. We also conclude that the cardiovascular effects of SNP in hypertensives are different than those reported by previous studies done in normal subjects. Further studies may throw light on possible mechanisms involved and also whether there is any difference produced by long term training in SNP.