Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: A Clinical Study

BACKGROUND: Pranayama is an art of controlling the life force of breath. It produces many systemic psycho-physical effects in the body, besides its specific effects on the respiratory functions. It is claimed that practice of 'pranayama' is one of the ways to achieve this goal of physical and mental health. 'Regular practice of pranayama has found to be helpful in developing a healthy body and a sound mind. Several studies have shown the beneficial effects of pranayama practice on respiratory parameters in patients with respiratory disorders, especially asthmatics. The present study was done to find out whether short-term practice of pranayama has any additive effects on respiratory parameters of normal healthy persons. METHODOLOGY: The present study was conducted in Department of Physiology, Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences, Bellary on 200 medical and paramedical students comprising of both males and females, fulfilling the inclusion criteria. In the beginning they were given training in practice of pranayama, after which all the subjects practiced two types of pranayama for a total duration of 12 weeks. Lung parameters like Respiratory rate (R.R), Tidal volume (VT), Inspiratory reserve volume (I.R.V), Expiratory reserve volume (E.R.V), Vital capacity (VT), Forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1) and Peak expiratory flow rate (P.E.F.R) were recorded at the beginning and at the end of the 12 weeks study period. RESULTS: The subjects showed improved ventilatory functions, in the form of decrease in respiratory rate (R.R) and increase in Vital capacity (VT). Lung volumes like Tidal volume (VT), Inspiratory reserve volume (I.R.V) and Expiratory reserve volume (E.R.V) also showed significant increase. CONCLUSION: There was a statistically significant increase in all the above lung parameters in the regular yoga practitioners.