Heart rate variability biofeedback decreases blood pressure in prehypertensive subjects by improving autonomic function and baroreflex.
J Altern Complement Med
; 18(2): 143-52, 2012 Feb.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-22339103
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Individuals with prehypertension are at risk of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, and yet efficient interventions are lagging behind. Studies indicate that heart rate variability-biofeedback (HRV-BF) increases HRV and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) as well as reduces related pathological symptoms, suggesting potentially beneficial effects of HRV-BF on prehypertension, but little is known about these effects. In this study, these effects were investigated and their mechanisms were explored.OBJECTIVES:
The effect of HRV-BF on prehypertension in young adults and its potential mechanism were explored.DESIGN:
Forty-three (43) individuals with prehypertension were recruited and classified into three categories HRV-BF group, slow abdominal breathing group, and control group. All groups were assessed with measurements of noninvasive blood pressure (BP), BRS, respiration, and galvanic skin response (GSR) at pre-intervention, in the entire process of each session, at postintervention, as well as at a 3-month follow-up.INTERVENTIONS:
Subjects participated in a 10-session HRV-BF protocol or simple slow abdominal breathing protocol conducted over 5 weeks. A 3-month follow-up was also performed on these individuals.RESULTS:
The incidence of prehypertension was as high as 14.5% in young college students. Individuals with prehypertension were lower in BRS (7.5±5.2 ms/mm Hg) and HRV (log10-transformed of the standard deviation of normal-to-normal beats [SDNN]=1.62±0.13 ms, lgTotal power of spectral density in the range of frequencies between 0 and 0.4Hz (TP)=8.02±0.55 ms2) than those with normal blood pressure (BRS=18.4±7.4 ms/mm Hg, lgSDNN=1.79±0.10 ms, lgTP=8.68±0.85 ms2). HRV-BF reduced blood pressure (from 131.7±8.7/79.3±4.7 mm Hg to 118.9±7.3 mm Hg/71.9±4.9 mm Hg, p<0.01), increased BRS (from 7.0±5.9 ms/mm Hg to 15.8±5.3 ms/mm Hg, p<0.01) and increased HRV (lgSDNN from 1.61±0.11 to 1.75±0.05 ms, and lgTP from 8.07±0.54 to 9.08±0.41 ms2, p<0.01). These effects were more obvious than those of the slow-breathing group, and remained for at least 3 months. HRV-BF also significantly increased vagus-associated HRV indices and decreased GSR (indices of sympathetic tone).CONCLUSIONS:
These effects suggest that HRV-BF, a novel behavioral neurocardiac intervention, could enhance BRS, improve the cardiac autonomic tone, and facilitate BP adjustment for individuals with prehypertension.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Sistema Nervoso Autônomo
/
Biorretroalimentação Psicológica
/
Pressão Sanguínea
/
Barorreflexo
/
Pré-Hipertensão
/
Frequência Cardíaca
Tipo de estudo:
Clinical_trials
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Altern Complement Med
Assunto da revista:
TERAPIAS COMPLEMENTARES
Ano de publicação:
2012
Tipo de documento:
Article