The effect of alternate nasal breathing exercise on blood pressure and stress levels in individuals with hypertension

The study was conducted to determine the effect of alternative nasal breathing exercise on blood pressure and stress levels in individuals with hypertension. The sample of the study consisted of a total of 52 patients, 26 intervention and 26 control, in Cardiology outpatient clinics. Ethics committee approval, institutional permission and verbal and written informed consent were obtained from the patients participating in the study. In the study, patients in the intervention group were given alternate nasal breathing for 10 minutes once a day for 4 weeks. Data were collected using the Patient Introduction Form, Perceived Stress Scale, Life Findings Follow-up Form, Application Follow-up Form, and Blood Pressure Monitoring Forms. Independent Sample-t test, Paired Sample test, chi test, Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon test were used to evaluate the data. Statistical significance value was accepted as p<0.05. In the study, the systolic blood pressure of the individuals in the intervention group decreased from 133.73±7.02 to 126.15±5.98, respectively (p<0.05). The diastolic blood pressures of the individuals in the intervention group decreased from 85.35±4.41 to 76.65±4.19, respectively (p<0.05). When the perceived stress levels of the patients were analyzed, the mean perceived stress level scores in the intervention group decreased from 21.65±5.18 to 15.46±4.36, respectively (p<0.05). As a result, it was found that alternative nasal breathing applied to individuals with hypertension reduced blood pressure and decreased perceived stress level. In line with these results, it was recommended that nurses should provide training and counseling to hypertensive patients about alternative nasal breathing exercise.