Yoga and hypertension:
Yoga and degree of blood pressure control: Yoga may be used to control blood pressure. In a study of 34 hypertensive patients randomly assigned to 6 weeks of either yoga relaxation methods or to placebo (general relaxation) blood-pressure was reported to have significantly decreased (on average from 168/100 to 141/84 mm Hg in the yoga group and from 169/101 to 160/96 mm Hg in the placebo group). When the placebo group switched to yoga relaxation, their blood-pressure was further reduced. (23)
Yoga and may help control the amount of required blood pressure medication. Yoga may be have beneficial effects for those suffering from hypertension according to a study including 25 patients with hypertension. Study participants were taught Shavasana, which they practiced for 6 months. Individuals either received no antihypertensive drug treatment (n=20, Group A) or took antihypertensive drugs (n=5, Group B). The study showed both groups had a significant reduction in average systolic and diastolic blood pressure. In group B, there were significant reduction in the amount of antihypertensive drugs taken. In group A, 65% of patients’ blood pressure could be controlled with Shavasana without use of medication. Among those who stopped practising yoga, blood pressure rose significantly to pre-Shavasana levels. (24)