Key result
Bhastrika pranayama raises heart rate by ~3 bpm and shifts sympathovagal balance toward sympathetic dominance.
Why the study?
Bhastrika Pranayama impacts the autonomic nervous system and brain function, but its acute effects on neuro-cardiovascular-respiratory function were not well characterized.
Does Bhastrika Pranayama alter heart rate variability and electroencephalogram patterns in regular yoga practitioners?
Does Bhastrika Pranayama alter heart rate variability and electroencephalogram patterns in regular yoga practitioners?
Absolute Event Rate: 75.8% vs 72.6%
p-value: p=0.006
Bhastrika Pranayama acutely enhances sympathetic activity and modifies cognitive states in regular yoga practitioners.
Acute sympathetic shift warrants caution in at-risk patients; leaves open therapeutic autonomic effects in larger trials.
Bhastrika Pranayama, a vigorous yoga breathing technique, impacts both the autonomic nervous system and brain function. This prospective interventional study examined the acute effects of Bhastrika on heart rate variability (HRV) and electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns in 20 regular yoga practitioners. Significant increases in heart rate and sympathetic activity, as well as alterations in brain wave spectra, were observed during and after the practice indicated by a rise in low-frequency (LF) power and the LF/HF ratio, along with a decrease in high-frequency (HF) power and a substantial decrease in beta, theta, alpha and gamma waves while delta waves increased. The findings suggest Bhastrika enhances sympathetic activity and modifies cognitive states. Further research is necessary to understand its long-term benefits and therapeutic potential.
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Malhotra et al. (2024) studied Healthy yoga practitioners (n=20). Bhastrika pranayama vs. Baseline (pre-intervention) was evaluated on Heart rate (bpm) (p=0.006). A 5-minute session of Bhastrika pranayama significantly increased heart rate from 72.6 to 75.8 bpm and shifted sympathovagal balance towards sympathetic dominance in healthy yoga practitioners.
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