INTRODUCTION:

Modern life has not only offered us convenience and comfort but along with them, several complications increasing our indolence, anxiety and stress¹. Hypertension frequently exists without producing symptoms which is often called a silent killer¹.This induces a major cause of death and disability the world over.

Hypertension is a silent killer as early stages of this disease have no clinical manifestation other than raised BP and there is no sign and symptom to lead a person to seek healthcare. Hypertension is the single most important predictor of cardiovascular risk, BP level is related to severity of atherosclerosis, stroke, nephropathy, peripheral vascular disease congestive heart failure. The risk factors associated with hypertension includes stress, obesity, high salted diet, high alcohol intake and lack of exercises². The World Health Report states that management of mild elevations of blood pressure can be achieved by non pharmacological measures³. Yogic techniques are known to improve ones overall performance. Pranayama (breathing exercise) is known to be a part of yogic techniques.- Savitri Pranayama, Kapalbhati, Bhastrika Pranayama, Nadi suddhi Pranayama (Alternate nostril breathing), are well known among them. These breathing exercises are reported to influence cardio-respiratory and autonomic functions^4-7 and also help in reducing the scores of anxiety⁸ and stress⁹. Nadi shodhana therefore means that practice which purifies the body. The practice of Nadi shodhana is an art of controlling the breath. During the practice the subject tries to keep his or her attention on the act of breathing leading to concentration which in turn de-stress the subject and improves overall health and well-being¹⁰.

NEED FOR THE STUDY:

Hypertension, a “psychological classical silent killer” is the hallmark of various cardiovascular disorders mainly occurring due to increase in the total peripheral resistance because of several etiological factors – genetic, obesity, glucose intolerance, high salt intake, cigarette smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, increased serum renin levels¹¹. Due to plenty of etiological factors, hypertension would become a greater global burden in the next 15 - 20 years. The prevalence of hypertension in the worldwide is 9.72billion and in India it is 11.82billion by 2000. The estimated total number of hypertensive patients would increase by about 60%, i.e., a total of 15.6billion high blood pressure sufferers, by the year 2025. For more than 50% of all stroke deaths and about 25% of coronary heart disease deaths, in which the main cause is hypertension. Hypertension is an important and growing public health challenge worldwide¹².

The prevalence of hypertension was 27.1% and 26.4% among men and women, respectively. It was 7%-11.5% in Gujarat. The risk of hypertension was 6-8 times higher in elderly people and 2-3 times in 35-59 yr compared with 20-34 yr. Only <10% men and women were known hypertensive and more than half on treatment (55%-68%). Those using tobacco and consuming alcohol were at a higher risk of hypertension compared with the non users¹³. Hence the investigator likes to implement the alternate nostril breathing as a effective intervention for the hypertensive clients in order to control the high blood pressure. Investigator thinks that this research on alternate nostril breathing exercise as an effective intervention for the management of this “psychological classical silent killer” disease.

OBJECTIVES:

1. To assess the blood pressure of hypertensive clients in experimental and control group using sphygmomanometer.

2. To determine the effectiveness of alternate nostril breathing on blood pressure among clients with hypertension.

3. To find the association between blood pressure readings after alternate nostril breathing among hypertensive clients with selected demographic variables.

HYPOTHESIS:

1. H1: There will be significant reduction in the blood pressure among hypertensive patients after practicing the alternate nostril breathing.

2. H2: There will be a significant association between blood pressure readings with their selected demographic variables.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Research Approach:

Quantitative Approach

Research Design:

Quasi Experimental Research Design

Target Population:

Hypertensive clients

Accessible Population:

Hypertensive clients in selected hospitals

Sampling Technique:

Non Probability purposive sampling

Data Collection Procedure:

Demographic variables, Sphygmomanometer

Group:

20 under Experimental group and 20 under Control group

1. Pre Assessment of blood pressure level in Experimental group and Control group

2. Alternate nostril breathing exercise to only Experimental group

3. Post Assessment of blood pressure level in Experimental group and Control group

Data Analysis:

Descriptive and Inferential Statistics

Criterion Measure:

Level of blood pressure

MAJOR FINDINGS

Major study findings include:

A. Findings related to demographic variables of the study.

1. The majority of 32(80%) sample’s age is between 50-59 years.

2. The majority of 35(87.5%) sample’s are males.

3. The majority of 35(87.5%) sample’s are not doing any exercise.

4. The majority of 40 (100%) sample’s are married.

5. The majority of 24 (60%) sample’s are not working people.

6. The majority of 31 (77.5%) sample’s are obess.

7. The majority of 12 (30%) sample’s are having the habit of chewing tobacco and smoking.

8. The majority of 28 (70%) sample’s are having the other CVS diseases.

9. The majority of 35 (87.5%) sample’s are having the secondary type of hypertension.

B. Findings related to effectiveness of alternate nostril breathing on blood pressure among hypertensive patients.

With regards to effectiveness of alternate nostril breathing on reducing blood pressure among hypertensive patients, in Experimental group the obtained ‘t’ value for systolic blood pressure was 31.2 and for diastolic blood pressure was 29.8 (p=3.8) that was very highly significant at p<0.001 level and in Control group the obtained ‘t’ value for systolic blood pressure was 12.25 and for diastolic blood pressure was 10 (p=3.8).

C. To find the association between Blood Pressure readings after Alternate Nostril Breathing among Hypertensive patients with selected demographic variables.

Among the demographic variables (gender and marital status) had obtained ᵡ² value below the level of tabulated value at the level of 0.05. The variables (age, daily exercise, occupation, body build, habits, other disease condition, type of hypertension) had obtained ᵡ² value above the level of tabulated value at the level of 0.05 and so there is significant association.

CONCLUSION:

The main conclusion from this present study is that most of the hypertensive patients who had Stage-I and Stage-II level of hypertension in pre test have normal, pre hypertension level in post test. This shows the imperative need to understand the purpose of Alternate nostril breathing and control of blood pressure and it will improve the quality of life which includes the stability in physiological, psychological, sexual, vocational and lifestyles aspects.

REFERENCES:

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Received on 26.07.2016 Modified on 23.08.2016

Int. J. Adv. Nur. Management. 2016; 4(4): 369-371.

DOI: 10.5958/2454-2652.2016.00082.2