What is the impact of device-guided and non-device-guided (pranayama) slow breathing on blood pressure reduction in hypertensive and prehypertensive patients at low cardiac risk?
Complement Ther Med · 2019 · PMID 31331557 · DOI 10.1016/j.ctim.2019.03.005
Slow breathing techniques can modestly lower blood pressure in individuals with hypertension or prehypertension.
The question
What is the impact of device-guided and non-device-guided (pranayama) slow breathing on blood pressure reduction in hypertensive and prehypertensive patients at low cardiac risk?
What they tested
The study aims to assess if slow breathing interventions can reduce blood pressure in patients with hypertension or prehypertension.
How they did it
This meta-analysis included randomized controlled trials or the first phase of randomized cross-over studies. Eligible studies involved subjects with hypertension, prehypertension, or those on antihypertensive medication, with interventions of slow breathing at 10 breaths/minute for 5 minutes on 3 days/week, lasting 4 weeks or more, and with a control group. Data were extracted by two independent authors, bias risk was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool, and data were pooled using the DerSimonian and Laird random effects model. Main outcomes were changes in systolic (SBP) and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), and/or decreased antihypertensive medication.
What they found
Seventeen studies were included in the meta-analysis from 103 eligible citations. Slow breathing interventions resulted in an overall decrease in systolic blood pressure (SBP) by -5.62 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) by -2.97 mmHg. High heterogeneity was observed across all analyses.
| Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) | -5.62 | |
|---|---|---|
| Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) | -2.97 |
Slow breathing decreased SBP by -5.62 mmHg and DBP by -2.97 mmHg.
What it means
Slow breathing leads to a modest reduction in blood pressure. It could be considered a reasonable initial treatment option for low-risk hypertensive and prehypertensive patients who prefer not to start medication.
Limitations
The meta-analysis reported high heterogeneity for all analyses, which may affect the generalizability of the findings.
The paper at a glance
| Magellan’s evidence label | device-guided paced breathing (our label for this citation — see PubMed for the paper’s own title and authors) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Complement Ther Med |
| Year | 2019 |
| PMID | 31331557 ↗ |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.ctim.2019.03.005 ↗ |
| Topic | Cardiovascular & vascular aging |
Read the source: PubMed record (authors, abstract, full citation) ↗ · Publisher via doi.org ↗
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Slow-Breathing Pacer Device
Non-drug blood pressure reduction. Research relevant to this mechanism is indexed on PubMed and linked below; it describes the mechanism rather than this specific product.
Molecules & mechanisms in this paper
Each of these is named in the paper’s own words above. Open the monograph for the full mechanism and its other citations.
Cite this page
These citations point at this summary. To cite the original paper with its full author list, use the PubMed record or doi.org.
Magellan Longevity. (2026). What is the impact of device-guided and non-device-guided (pranayama) slow breathing on blood pressure reduction in hypertensive and prehypertensive patients at low cardiac risk? [Plain-English summary of Complement Ther Med 2019, PMID 31331557, DOI 10.1016/j.ctim.2019.03.005]. Magellan Longevity. https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s166.html@misc{magellan_s166,
title = {What is the impact of device-guided and non-device-guided (pranayama) slow breathing on blood pressure reduction in hypertensive and prehypertensive patients at low cardiac risk?},
author = {{Magellan Longevity}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s166.html}},
note = {Plain-English summary of PubMed PMID 31331557; DOI 10.1016/j.ctim.2019.03.005; Complement Ther Med 2019. Reviewed by Gabriel Radu, DO},
urldate = {2026-08-11}
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