Thirteen male patients
attending JIPMER staff clinic for essential hypertension volunteered to be
subjects for this study. All the patients were having uncomplicated
essential hypertension for 3 to 17 (6.84 ± 1.39 SEM) years and were under
treatment with Atenolol. Their age was 41 to 60 (50 ± 1.84 SEM) years,
height 160 to 170 (163.84 ± 1.01 SEM) cm and weight 62 to 76 (71.07 ±
1.13 SEM) kg. After explaining purpose and design of the study, informed
consent was obtained from them. They were taught yogasans and pranayams
and practiced the same under our direct supervision daily for one hour,
Monday through Saturday for a total duration of four weeks. The yogasans
and pranayams taught were :
Asans : naukasan,
vipareetakarani, matsyasan, shashasan, shavasan with kayakriya
Pranayams : pranava,
chandra anuloma and savitri pranayams.
Basal recordings were taken
in sitting posture after 10 min of rest in a chair. Systolic pressure
(SP), diastolic pressure (DP), mean pressure (MP) and HR were recorded by
non-invasive semi-automatic blood pressure monitor (Press-Mate 8800, Colin
Corporation, Japan). Pulse pressure (PP = SP-DP) and RPP (RPP=HR × SP ×
10-2) were calculated. HR and BP response to isometric handgrip was
determined by asking the subject to sustain the handgrip for 2-3 min using
partially inflated sphygmomanometer cuff so as to maintain the mercury
column at a level corresponding to 1/3 of maximum voluntary contraction
pressure (19). In our pilot study we found that our hypertensive patients
could maintain the handgrip for 2-3 min as compared to 3-4 min in normal
young subjects. Hence in the present study the duration of isometric
handgrip exercise was kept at 2-3 min.
HR and BP were recorded
before the yoga training and at weekly intervals during the four week
training period. The response to IHG test was measured before and at the
end of four week study period. Results were expressed as mean ± SEM. Data
were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed
by Turkey- Kramer multiple comparison test. Students paired ‘t’ test
was used to compare the parameters after the handgrip exercise and resting
values and also for percentage (delta) changes before and after yoga
training. For all comparisons, P<0.05 was considered statistically
significant. |