Effect of anuloma viloma pranayama on cardiorespiratory parameters in apparently healthy young adults

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Anuloma viloma pranayama for 4 weeks significantly lowered systolic BP (106.46 vs 111.92 mmHg, p<0.001), diastolic BP (67.92 vs 72.85 mmHg, p<0.001), and pulse rate (73.54 vs 80.19/min, p<0.001).

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Population: Cardiorespiratory parameters in apparently healthy young adults (n=52). Intervention: Anuloma viloma pranayama (alternate nostril breathing) vs. No breathing intervention. Primary outcome: Post-intervention systolic blood pressure (mmHg) (p=<0.001).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Four weeks of daily anuloma viloma pranayama significantly reduces pulse rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and improves peak expiratory flow rate in healthy young adults. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.CONFIRMATORY. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Q: What question did this study set out to answer?

To assess the effect of regular anuloma viloma pranayama practice on selected cardiorespiratory parameters in healthy young individuals.

Sakshi Verma; Jagdish Narayan; Shraddha Singh

doi:10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20263517

September 29, 2026International Journal of Research in Medical SciencesOpen Access

Effect of anuloma viloma pranayama on cardiorespiratory parameters in apparently healthy young adults

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Key result

Anuloma viloma pranayama lowers systolic BP by ~5 mmHg alongside diastolic and pulse reductions.

P<0.001
n=52

Why the study?

Alternate nostril breathing (anuloma viloma pranayama) has been reported to influence autonomic balance and improve cardiorespiratory function, motivating an assessment of its regular practice on selected cardiorespiratory parameters in healthy young individuals.

Does practicing anuloma viloma pranayama for 10 minutes daily over 4 weeks improve cardiorespiratory parameters (pulse rate, blood pressure, and peak expiratory flow rate) in apparently healthy young adults?

Key Points

To assess the effect of regular anuloma viloma pranayama practice on selected cardiorespiratory parameters in healthy young individuals.
Enrolled 52 apparently healthy young adults aged 18-26 years with a BMI of 18.5-22.9 kg/m2 at King George’s Medical University in Lucknow.
Assigned participants to two groups of 26: group A practiced anuloma viloma for 10 minutes daily for 4 weeks, whereas group B underwent no breathing intervention.
Measured baseline and post-intervention pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR).
Post-intervention pulse rate was significantly lower in group A compared to group B (73.54±4.23 vs 80.19±4.64 per min, p<0.001).
Group A showed significantly lower post-intervention systolic blood pressure (106.46±3.85 vs 111.92±4.68 mmHg, p<0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (67.92±3.60 vs 72.85±3.06 mmHg, p<0.001) compared with group B.
Post-intervention PEFR was significantly higher in group A compared to group B (6.61±0.71 vs 6.11±0.86 litre/minute, p=0.027).

Structured PICO

Does practicing anuloma viloma pranayama for 10 minutes daily over 4 weeks improve cardiorespiratory parameters (pulse rate, blood pressure, and peak expiratory flow rate) in apparently healthy young adults?

P

Population

52 apparently healthy young adults aged 18-26 years (mean age 20.02 years, 38.5% female) with normal BMI (18.5-22.9 kg/m2) in Lucknow, India, free of medical disorders or regular yogic practice, followed for 4 weeks.

I

Intervention

Anuloma viloma pranayama (alternate nostril breathing: inhale through right nostril for 6 seconds, hold breath for 6 seconds, exhale through left nostril for 6 seconds, inhale through left nostril for 6 seconds, hold breath for 6 seconds, exhale through right nostril for 6 seconds) practiced while seated comfortably for 10 minutes daily for 4 weeks.

C

Comparator

Control phase involving no breathing intervention for 4 weeks.

O

Outcome

Cardiorespiratory parameters including pulse rate (counted via radial pulse for 1 minute), systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure (measured via palpatory and auscultatory methods with stethoscope and LED sphygmomanometer), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR, measured using NDD EasyOn-PC spirometer) assessed after 4 weeks.surrogate

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 106.46% vs 111.92%

p-value: p=<0.001

Limitations

Short intervention duration of four weeks prevented assessment of long-term physiological adaptations
Relatively small sample size limited to healthy young adults restricts generalizability to other age groups and clinical populations
Autonomic function was assessed indirectly via heart rate and blood pressure without advanced measures like heart rate variability
Respiratory muscle strength and lung compliance were not directly assessed
Single-center design may limit external validity
Duration of intervention was limited to four weeks, so long-term physiological adaptations could not be assessed
Relatively small sample size including only healthy young adults, limiting generalizability to other age groups and clinical populations
Autonomic function was assessed indirectly through heart rate and blood pressure without advanced measures such as heart rate variability
Conducted at a single center, which may limit external validity

Implication

Four weeks of daily 10-minute anuloma viloma pranayama significantly reduced resting pulse rate and blood pressure while improving peak expiratory flow rate in healthy young adults.

Abstract

Background: Alternate nostril breathing (anuloma viloma pranayama) has been reported to influence autonomic balance and improve cardiorespiratory function. The present study was conducted to assess the effect of regular anuloma viloma practice on selected cardiorespiratory parameters in healthy young individuals. Methods: This study was carried out in the department of physiology, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, after institutional ethics committee approval. A total of 52 apparently healthy young adults aged 18-26 years with BMI 18.5-22.9 kg/m2 were enrolled. Participants were divided into two groups. During the experimental phase, subjects practiced anuloma viloma for 10 minutes daily for 4 weeks, while the control phase involved no breathing intervention. Pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and PEFR were assessed. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 21.0. Results: Baseline cardiac and respiratory parameters of both groups were comparable. After intervention, group A showed significantly lower pulse rate, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure compared with group B. PEFR was significantly higher in the intervention group. Conclusions: Regular practice of anuloma viloma pranayama produced favourable cardiorespiratory changes in apparently healthy young adults, with reduction in pulse rate and blood pressure, along with improvement in peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR).

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Verma et al. (2026) studied Cardiorespiratory parameters in apparently healthy young adults (n=52). Anuloma viloma pranayama (alternate nostril breathing) vs. No breathing intervention was evaluated on Post-intervention systolic blood pressure (mmHg) (p=<0.001). Anuloma viloma pranayama for 4 weeks significantly lowered systolic BP (106.46 vs 111.92 mmHg, p<0.001), diastolic BP (67.92 vs 72.85 mmHg, p<0.001), and pulse rate (73.54 vs 80.19/min, p<0.001).

synapsesocial.com/papers/6ae28dedcbadf70daf6c3fbf https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20263517

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Effect of anuloma viloma pranayama on cardiorespiratory parameters in apparently healthy young adults

Key Points

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Effect of anuloma viloma pranayama on cardiorespiratory parameters in apparently healthy young adults

Key Points

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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