--- title: "Device-guided slow breathing reduces blood pressure and…" description: "Device-guided slow breathing effectively reduces blood pressure and sympathetic activity in both young normotensive men and women." url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d31436511.md" canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d31436511.html" html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d31436511.html" type: "study" study_key: "d31436511" journal: "J Appl Physiol" year: 2019 pmid: "31436511" doi: "10.1152/japplphysiol.00442.2019" citations: 1 updated: 2026-09-02 author: "Gabriel Radu, DO" author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765." publisher: "Magellan Longevity" content_format: "markdown" --- # Device-guided slow breathing reduces blood pressure and sympathetic activity in young normotensive individuals [Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) › Device-guided slow breathing reduces blood pressure and… **HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d31436511.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/study/d31436511 ## Citation | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Journal | J Appl Physiol | | Year | 2019 | | PMID | [31436511](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31436511/) | | DOI | [10.1152/japplphysiol.00442.2019](https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00442.2019) | | Study key | d31436511 | ## Takeaway Device-guided slow breathing effectively reduces blood pressure and sympathetic activity in both young normotensive men and women. ## The question Do blood pressure responses to slow breathing differ between men and women, and what are the autonomic contributors to these changes? ## Hypothesis An acute bout of slow breathing would induce larger decreases in blood pressure in males than in females, given that males typically have higher resting blood pressure. ## Methods Normotensive females (n=10, age: 22±2 y) and males (n=12, age: 23±3 y) were tested at baseline and during the last 5 minutes of a 15-minute RESPeRATE-guided slow breathing session. Measurements included blood pressure, muscle sympathetic nerve activity, and spontaneous cardiovagal and vascular sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity. ## Results Overall, slow breathing reduced systolic blood pressure by 3.2±0.8 mmHg. Females had lower systolic blood pressure, but there was no interaction between sex and slow breathing. Slow breathing also reduced muscle sympathetic nerve activity burst incidence by -5.0±1.4 bursts/100 heartbeats, with no interaction between sex and slow breathing. Cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity improved during slow breathing (21.0 vs. 36.0 ms/mmHg), with no effect of sex. ## Conclusion Slow breathing is equally effective in reducing blood pressure in both males and females, even in young, normotensive individuals, despite females having lower overall blood pressure. The RESPeRATE device is effective for reducing blood pressure in both sexes. ## Limitations The study was conducted on young, normotensive individuals, which may limit generalizability to other populations, such as those with hypertension. ## Verbatim from the abstract > slow breathing reduced systolic BP by 3.2 mmHg and reduced muscle sympathetic nerve activity ## Impact of Slow Breathing on Systolic Blood Pressure and Cardiovagal Baroreflex Sensitivity | Measure | Value | | --- | --- | | Systolic BP Reduction | 3.2 | | MSNA Burst Incidence Reduction | 5 | | Cardiovagal BRS Baseline | 21 | | Cardiovagal BRS During SLOWB | 36 | *Slow breathing reduced systolic blood pressure by 3.2 mmHg and muscle sympathetic nerve activity burst incidence by 5.0 bursts/100 heartbeats. Cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity improved from 21.0 ms/mmHg at baseline to 36.0 ms/mmHg during slow breathing.* ## Where this study is used on Magellan This paper is one of the citations behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of affiliate commissions. | Compound or device | Evidence grade | Graded pages | | --- | --- | --- | | Slow-Breathing Pacer Device | — | — | ## Reference 1. **Device-guided slow breathing reduces blood pressure and sympathetic activity in young normotensive individuals** J Appl Physiol 2019 · [PMID 31436511](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31436511/) · [DOI 10.1152/japplphysiol.00442.2019](https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00442.2019) > slow breathing reduced systolic BP by 3.2 mmHg and reduced muscle sympathetic nerve activity ## Structured data ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d31436511.html#page","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d31436511.html","name":"Device-guided slow breathing reduces blood pressure and sympathetic activity in young normotensive individuals","description":"Device-guided slow breathing effectively reduces blood pressure and sympathetic activity in both young normotensive men and women.","inLanguage":"en","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Gabriel Radu, DO","jobTitle":"Physiatrist (PM&R)","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NPI","value":"1376861765"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NY medical license","value":"275110"}]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"encoding":{"@type":"MediaObject","encodingFormat":"text/markdown","contentUrl":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d31436511.md"},"dateModified":"2026-09-02"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research map","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Device-guided slow breathing reduces blood pressure and…","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d31436511.html"}]},{"@type":"ScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d31436511.html#study","name":"Device-guided slow breathing reduces blood pressure and sympathetic activity in young normotensive individuals","headline":"Device-guided slow breathing reduces blood pressure and sympathetic activity in young normotensive individuals","datePublished":"2019","isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"J Appl Physiol"},"identifier":"PMID:31436511","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31436511/","sameAs":"https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00442.2019","abstract":"Device-guided slow breathing effectively reduces blood pressure and sympathetic activity in both young normotensive men and women."}]} ``` ## Related on Magellan Longevity - [Evidence: device-guided paced breathing](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s166.md) - [Device and nondevice-guided slow breathing to reduce blood pressure in hypertensive…](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d35601033.md) - [Longevity research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) - [Evidence-based longevity supplements](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-supplements.md) ## Scope and disclosures Educational information, not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication. Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases. Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).