Yoga Poses and Breath Control Cardiovascular Changes in Hypertensive Post-Menopause Women

Autonomic and Cardiovascular Changes of Yoga Poses, Breath Control and Stretching Exercises in Hypertensive Post-Menopause Women: Randomized Controlled Trial

Autonomic and endothelial imbalance in post menopause women raise the need to manage cardiovascular risk. Yoga poses and breathing control present controversial results on prevention and treatment of hypertension.. The aim of this study is to compare the effect of 12 week intervention based on yoga poses and their muscle contractions known as bandhas (pelvic floor, core and throat/neck) and ujjayi pranayama (victorious breath) on autonomic modulation, endothelial function, arterial stiffness, aerobic capacity and cognitive function of hypertensive post-menopausal women.

Abstract: Increased hypertension prevalence in post-menopausal women, along with cardiovascular damages such as autonomic and endothelial imbalance raise the need to include non-pharmacological interventions, such as yoga in the management of cardiovascular risk. Yoga practices are composed by several variations of techniques including physical postures (yoga poses and specific muscles contractions), breathing control (pranayamas), relaxation and meditation, beside others.The effects of each of these compounds has not been elucidated up to date and can be considered confounding effects for commonly named "yoga programs". Existing yoga based data are controversial about its effect on prevention and treatment of hypertension and point to poor methodological standards of most studies. Considering the effects of comparable interventions such as slow breathing on improving autonomic modulation, resistive and isometric exercise on endothelial function, and associations of flexibility with arterial stiffness, it´s licit to search for specific effects of yoga compounds. Thus, the aim of this study is to compare the effect of 12 week intervention based on yoga poses including their muscle contractions known as bandhas (pelvic floor, core and throat/neck), ujjayi pranayama (victorious breath) and stretching/ flexibility on autonomic modulation, endothelial function, arterial stiffness, aerobic capacity and cognitive function of hypertensive post-menopausal women.

Inclusion Criteria:

• FSH>35mui/ml
• minimum 12 months amenorrhea
• sedentary life style (less than 150 minutes per week of exercise)
• never been in yoga -practicing (self declaration)
• Blood pressure > 140/90 or in continuous use of medication (diuretics,Ca+ channel inhibitors, ACE inhibitors)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Use of Betablockers
• recent cardiovascular events or surgery
• renal alterations
• respiratory and/or motor pathologies
• smoking
• BMI>34,9