Comparison of Breathing Exercise for Hypertensive Patients

The patient will be first asked to close one nostril with a thumb and slowly breathe in completely through the other for 6 seconds. This nostril will be then closed and the patient will exhale through the other nostril over a period of 6 seconds. These steps complete one breathing cycle. An attempt will be made to keep the breathing rate is about 5-6 breaths per minute. Such alternate nostril breathing cycles will be repeated continuously for a period of about 15 minutes (3 sets of 5 minutes) in one sitting.

"Patients would be instructed to Sit or lie down in a comfortable place and put their hands on their belly.~Relax the muscles in their neck and shoulders. Breathe in slowly through the nose, keeping their mouth closed. Feel the lungs fill with air and inflate like a balloon while their belly moves outward. Such breathing cycles will be repeated continuously for a period of about 15 (3 sets of 5 minutes) minutes in one sitting."