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Pooled data suggest relaxation techniques may help lower high blood pressure—at least in the short term
Medical Xpress / British Medical Journal / BMJ Medicine ^ | April 8, 2025 | Katie E Webster et al

Posted on 04/13/2025 8:30:57 PM PDT by ConservativeMind

Relaxation techniques may help lower high blood pressure—at least in the short term—but the longer-term effects are unclear, finds a pooled data analysis of the existing research.

While drugs are available to treat the condition, adherence to them is poor, generating interest in alternative approaches, such as relaxation techniques, to reduce one of the major risk factors for high blood pressure—high stress levels.

But it's far from clear which of these methods might be most effective.

To build on the evidence base, the researchers scoured research databases for studies published in English up to February 2024 that looked at the potential impact of relaxation techniques on high blood pressure (140/90 mm Hg and above) and elevated blood pressure (120/80 mm Hg and above).

They included 182 studies, 166 of which looked at high blood pressure, and 16 of which looked at elevated blood pressure (pre-hypertension).

The pooled results of 54 studies showed that most relaxation techniques seemed to lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure for people with high blood pressure after three or fewer months. The most commonly included interventions were breath control (13 studies), yoga/tai chi (11), biofeedback (eight), progressive muscle relaxation (seven), and music (seven).

Compared with no intervention, breath control achieved a reduction of 6.65 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure (the first and higher number in a blood pressure reading), meditation, a drop of 7.71 mm Hg, meditative movement, such as tai chi and yoga, a drop of 9.58 mm Hg, and mindfulness a drop of 9.90 mm Hg.

Music was also associated with a fall of 6.61 mm Hg, progressive muscle relaxation with a fall of 7.46 mm Hg, and psychotherapy with a reduction of 9.83 mm Hg. Combined techniques were associated with a drop of 6.78 mm Hg in blood pressure.

(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: bloodpressure; relaxation
Breathing and biofeedback work. One of method that does both is RESPeRATE, which I got my wife when she started with high blood pressure, the device watches you breathing and paces you to breathe in and out in a way that maximizes your CO2 in the blood, which is what relaxes your blood vessels (I didn’t know that before researching to help my wife). This device averages a drop of 14/8, but can drip it quite a bit more.

She used it for several months, but was already on a low dose of two blood pressure drugs. Fortunately, she no longer needs medicines or breathing practice, because we reversed all signs of blood pressure issues and she has been off drugs for a while.

The secret? Things I’ve posted here, over the years. Mine had started edging up two years after hers needed medicines, but for a while I am on the low side of the normal range and never needed medicines.

Get off your medicines, when possible. You can reverse arterial plaques, open up capillaries, relax your arteries, repair your endothelial layer, etc. and have better health, with some work.

1 posted on 04/13/2025 8:30:57 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
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To: Mazey; ckilmer; goodnesswins; Jane Long; jy8z; ProtectOurFreedom; matthew fuller; telescope115; ...

The “Take Charge Of Your Health” Ping List

This high volume ping list is for health articles and studies which describe something you or your doctor, when informed, may be able to immediately implement for your benefit.

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2 posted on 04/13/2025 8:31:37 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: ConservativeMind
This device averages a drop of 14/8, but can drip it quite a bit more.

It's been my experience that if you sit quietly and take your blood pressure every few minutes it will continuously go down.

3 posted on 04/13/2025 8:37:32 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Democrats are the Party of anger, hate and violence.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

This is beyond that.

Take your blood pressure after sitting with no movement for five minutes. That should be your natural, immediate, low. Then do the additional breathing or such and see where it goes after 10-20 minute of that.

For the purposes of this study, that is what was measured.


4 posted on 04/13/2025 8:51:29 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

That has happened to me many times. Sadly, a few years ago I couldn’t get it back down enough so they put me on low dose Rx. I never smoked or drank alcohol but am overweight and subject to anger and very subject to stress. Bp has been kept okay with the drug. Although I hate taking prescriptions.

I was told around 1990 “You have labile blood pressure” by the MD after I made it go down while he waited. I felt like David Carradine on the Kung Fu series. It wasn’t wildly swinging but was a little high, then normal.

Here is a little Google stuff.

Note: This Free Republic post by Frank Ballenger is not intended to diagnose, prevent or cure any medical condition. Please consult your health professional. 🩺

https://www.google.com/search?q=labile+blood+pressure&sca_esv=5e73918b98baa42e&ei=C4b8Z7-lDPP_ptQP3YDLoAg&ved=0ahUKEwj_1uGiz9aMAxXzv4kEHV3AEoQQ4dUDCBA&oq=labile+blood+pressure&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlf1C


5 posted on 04/13/2025 8:57:46 PM PDT by frank ballenger (There's a battle outside and it's raging. It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls. )
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To: ConservativeMind

Thanks for the information. I looked up Resperate. It is not cheap, but it’s great that it can help a person get off drugs or take lower doses. It’s definitely something to consider.


6 posted on 04/13/2025 10:57:04 PM PDT by KittyKares
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To: ConservativeMind

Somebody was paid lots of money to come up with a conclusion that we have known for decades? SCIENCE!


7 posted on 04/14/2025 6:11:07 AM PDT by Mastador1
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