Effectiveness of a 12-week yoga program on physiopsychological parameters in patients with hypertension

Background: Hypertension is a major a chronic lifestyle disease affecting one in three adults over 25 years or about one billion, thereby resulting in cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and renal complications. In addition, it is an important contributor for increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in industrialized countries. Reports suggest that hypertension is rapidly increasing in the developing countries like India. Although medical management is effective in treating hypertension, owing to the side effects, alternative therapy such as Yoga practice is recommended. However, evidences on the efficacy of yoga practice in patients with hypertension are insufficient and further research is required. Objective: The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a 12-week Yoga program on physio-psychological parameters in patients with hypertension. Methods: Of 238 patients, 118 were randomly assigned to participate in yoga program (YP) group and 120 to the control group (CG) with no treatment. Parameters such as blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), body mass index (BMI), anxiety, and perceived stress were measured before and after intervention. Results: The groups were initially homogeneous; however, after intervention, the groups significantly differed. The YP group exhibited reduced BP, HR, BMI, anxiety, and perceived stress (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study suggests a 12-week yoga program may offer an effective intervention in reducing BP, HR, BMI, anxiety and perceived stress in patients with hypertension. Practicing Yogaasanas at home are helpful to avoid increased BP-related complications.