,
B. BO SRAMEK, Ph.D.
,
MATTHEW B. KENNEL,Ph.D.
and STUART W. JAMIESON, M.B., F.R.C.S.
DAVID S. SHANNAHOFF-KHALSA,
B. BO SRAMEK, Ph.D.,
MATTHEW B. KENNEL,Ph.D.
and STUART W. JAMIESON, M.B., F.R.C.S.
ABSTRACT
Objective: This pilot study investigated the hemodynamics
of a yogic breathing technique claimed "to help eliminate and prevent heart
attacks due to abnormal electrical events to the heart," and to generally "enhance
performance of the central nervous system (CNS) and to help eliminate the effects
of traumatic shock and stress to the CNS."
Design: Parameters
for (4) subjects were recorded during a preexercise resting period, a 31-minute exercise
period, and a postexercise resting period.
Settings/location: Parameters
for subjects were recorded in a laboratory at the University of California, San Diego.
Subjects:
Parameters for 3 males (ages 44,45,67) and 1 female (age 41) were recorded. One (1)
subject (male age 45) had extensive training in this technique.
Interventions:
This yogic technique is a 1 breath per minute (BPM) respiratory exercise with slow
inspiration for 20 seconds, breath retention for 20 seconds, and slow expiration
for 20 seconds, for 31 consecutive minutes.
Outcome Measures: Fourteen
beat-to-beat parameters were measured noninvasively and calculated for body surface
area to yield: Stroke Index (SI), Heart Rate (HR), Cardiac Index (CI), End Diastolic
Index (EDI), Peak Flow Index (PFI), Ejection Fraction (EF), Thoracic Fluid Index
(TFI), Index of Contractility (IE), Ejection Ratio (ER), Systolic Time Ratio (STR),
Acceleration Index (AI), and Systolic (S), Diastolic (D), and Mean Arterial Pressures
(MAP). Left Stroke Work Index (LSWI) and Stroke Systemic Vascular Resistance Index
(SSVRI) were calculated.
Results: We report on SI, HR, MAP, LSWI, and
SSVRI and how they can help to describe hemodynamic state changes. This technique
induces dramatic shifts in all hemodynamic variables during the 1 BPM exercise and
can produce unique changes in the post exercise resting period after long-term practice
that appears to have a unique effect on the brain stem cardiorespiratory center regulating
the Mayer wave (0.1 -0.01 Hz) patterns of the cardiovascular system.
Conclusions:
Preclinical studies are warranted to examine the possible long-term effects of
this technique that appear to reset a cardiorespiratory brain-stem pacemaker. We
postulate that this effect may be the basis for the purported yogic health claim.
The
Research Group for Mind -Body Dynamics, Institute for Nonlinear Science University
of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA.
The
Khalsa Foundation for Medical Science, Del Mar, CA.
Czech
Technical University Prague, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Prague, Czech
Republic.
International
Hemodynamic Society, USA.Department
of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of California, San Diego,
San Diego, CA.
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