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A short, home-based yoga program reduces blood pressure and improves self-rated quality of life in patients with hypertension, serving as an effective supplementary therapy to medical treatment. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

December 1, 2013Open Access

Impact of yoga on blood pressure and quality of life in patients with hypertension – a controlled trial in primary care, matched for systolic blood pressure

Structured PICO

Does a short home-based yoga program reduce blood pressure and improve quality of life in patients with hypertension?

Population

Patients with hypertension in primary care

Intervention

Short yoga program practiced at home as a supplementary therapy in addition to medical treatment

Comparator

Controls matched for systolic blood pressure

Outcome

Blood pressure and self-rated quality of lifesurrogate

Simple home-based yoga exercises may be a useful supplementary therapy to standard medical treatment for managing hypertension and improving quality of life in primary care.

Abstract

A short yoga program for the patient to practice at home seems to have an antihypertensive effect, as well as a positive effect on self-rated quality of life compared to controls. This implies that simple yoga exercises may be useful as a supplementary blood pressure therapy in addition to medical treatment when prescribed by primary care physicians.

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