I would like to see some empirical evidence showing that the effects of deep breathing are durable. A drug is likely to produce durable, and somewhat reliable, improvements of a kind desired. Deep breathing, unlike serum levels of drugs, and their bioavailability over hours so that they continue to do their job, is not something a person can, or is likely to, sustain for any great length of time. Mind you, the same can be said for exercise, including isometrics. But the evidence is building for the latter, and I haven't seen a mention in the literature yet about deep breathing.
I would like to see some empirical evidence showing that the effects of deep breathing are durable. A drug is likely to produce durable, and somewhat reliable, improvements of a kind desired. Deep breathing, unlike serum levels of drugs, and their bioavailability over hours so that they continue to do their job, is not something a person can, or is likely to, sustain for any great length of time. Mind you, the same can be said for exercise, including isometrics. But the evidence is building for the latter, and I haven't seen a mention in the literature yet about deep breathing.
By trade I was a PhD research analyst and my evidence is as empirical as it gets. I collect data: I do X number of breathing cycles, record that number and record the blood pressure results that follow. That's cause and effect to me - and a darn better "research design" than most of the studies printed in the literature. My study says deep breathing works to lower blood pressure (in this case 4-7-8) and my "study" has been ongoing for 3 months. It's good enough for me.
That is correct. A case study of 1 -- not really that far off from the tons of mundane psychology studies that get published with Ns not much larger but with much weaker study designs and questionnable results. I'm not publishing my results in a journal (NEJM) because I don't need to convince anyone with high blood pressure to try this approach. My results are informational. The 478 breathing technique is Dr. Weil's, not mine. As I said, it works for me and I have the data to back up my claim. What have you come up with that might be of use to the health community?
Just a lot of my own research, synthesis, and reading many, many, forum posts by people with an inclination to share their own findings and tips. The discussion that ensues is always instructive. I have seen suggestions for tugging and massaging the tragus, deep breathing, cold water showers, sticking one's head out the window on a cold winter's night for several minutes, avoiding calcium, eating more of it, avoiding caffeine, ingesting more of it, heavy dosing with magnesium....believe me, I have seen it all, and where someone says it works reliably for them, another says it has no effect one way or another. I then share, as you are doing, what I have synthesized from an undefined, but large, number of people who report some sort of commonality.
During such discussions, I invite people to post links with some empirical oomph behind them, and when I can, or ought, I do the same. You'll find such links peppered among my many posts here liberally.
That is correct. A case study of 1 -- not really that far off from the tons of mundane psychology studies that get published with Ns not much larger but with much weaker study designs and questionnable results. I'm not publishing my results in a journal (NEJM) because I don't need to convince anyone with high blood pressure to try this approach. My results are informational. The 478 breathing technique is Dr. Weil's, not mine. As I said, it works for me and I have the data to back up my claim. What have you come up with that might be of use to the health community?
Thinking about doing that. I designed a collection data sheet, but why do I need to do it? I'm not publishing a paper and I don't have to convince myself. Besides, that topic was covered by a physiologist - apparently responding to a question. My point is that many people (elderly or otherwise) have blood pressure problems but cannot exercise (for various reasons). Ideally they should be doing aerobics, but they can't or don't want to. Dr. Weil's 478 deep breathing is an alternative. It's easy enough to do, doesn't require equipment or leaving the residence, doesn't cost anything except time. If others try it and have the results I see, deep breathing can easily become the first thing they do in the morning and the last thing they do at night. If no one wants to try it, it won't affect me one way or the other. My bp has improved significantly.
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I would like to see some empirical evidence showing that the effects of deep breathing are durable. A drug is likely to produce durable, and somewhat reliable, improvements of a kind desired. Deep breathing, unlike serum levels of drugs, and their bioavailability over hours so that they continue to do their job, is not something a person can, or is likely to, sustain for any great length of time. Mind you, the same can be said for exercise, including isometrics. But the evidence is building for the latter, and I haven't seen a mention in the literature yet about deep breathing.
By trade I was a PhD research analyst and my evidence is as empirical as it gets. I collect data: I do X number of breathing cycles, record that number and record the blood pressure results that follow. That's cause and effect to me - and a darn better "research design" than most of the studies printed in the literature. My study says deep breathing works to lower blood pressure (in this case 4-7-8) and my "study" has been ongoing for 3 months. It's good enough for me.
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1 ReactionGreat! We have an n of 1. 🙂
That is correct. A case study of 1 -- not really that far off from the tons of mundane psychology studies that get published with Ns not much larger but with much weaker study designs and questionnable results. I'm not publishing my results in a journal (NEJM) because I don't need to convince anyone with high blood pressure to try this approach. My results are informational. The 478 breathing technique is Dr. Weil's, not mine. As I said, it works for me and I have the data to back up my claim. What have you come up with that might be of use to the health community?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsJust a lot of my own research, synthesis, and reading many, many, forum posts by people with an inclination to share their own findings and tips. The discussion that ensues is always instructive. I have seen suggestions for tugging and massaging the tragus, deep breathing, cold water showers, sticking one's head out the window on a cold winter's night for several minutes, avoiding calcium, eating more of it, avoiding caffeine, ingesting more of it, heavy dosing with magnesium....believe me, I have seen it all, and where someone says it works reliably for them, another says it has no effect one way or another. I then share, as you are doing, what I have synthesized from an undefined, but large, number of people who report some sort of commonality.
During such discussions, I invite people to post links with some empirical oomph behind them, and when I can, or ought, I do the same. You'll find such links peppered among my many posts here liberally.
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Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@gloaming mentioned the issue of the duration of deep breathing’s effects on blood pressure.
Did you measure that?
Thinking about doing that. I designed a collection data sheet, but why do I need to do it? I'm not publishing a paper and I don't have to convince myself. Besides, that topic was covered by a physiologist - apparently responding to a question. My point is that many people (elderly or otherwise) have blood pressure problems but cannot exercise (for various reasons). Ideally they should be doing aerobics, but they can't or don't want to. Dr. Weil's 478 deep breathing is an alternative. It's easy enough to do, doesn't require equipment or leaving the residence, doesn't cost anything except time. If others try it and have the results I see, deep breathing can easily become the first thing they do in the morning and the last thing they do at night. If no one wants to try it, it won't affect me one way or the other. My bp has improved significantly.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions