The Efficacy of an Intervention Program for Pain Intensity Reduction in Patients Undergoing Arterial Sheath Removal after Coronary Artery Angioplasty

Background: Pain management after sheath removal is one of the most significant points in patient care. The use of a simple, practical, and combined method in this field is essential. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an intervention program for pain intensity reduction in patients undergoing arterial sheath removal after coronary artery angioplasty. Methods: This semi-experimental study was conducted in 2020 on 90 eligible patients selected via the purpose-based method and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The intervention program for the experimental group included training to relax the abdominal muscles, deep and slow breathing, and precise pressure on the femoral pulse. Pain intensity was measured before, during, and several times after arterial sheath removal. The independent t, Fisher exact, and χ2 tests were used to analyze the data. Results: Women comprised 66.6% of the study participants, who had a mean age of 58.20±8.70 years. No significant differences were observed concerning pain intensity, bleeding, pseudoaneurysm formation, and hematoma between the 2 groups before the intervention (P=0.531). However, during the intervention and in the fifth and tenth minutes after the intervention, pain intensity was lower in the experimental group (P<0.050), whereas no such differences were observed regarding bleeding, pseudoaneurysm formation, and hematoma. Conclusions: Given the effectiveness of our intervention program in ameliorating pain intensity and vasovagal response after arterial sheath removal, we suggest that this program, along with prescription drugs, be used for the management of patients’ pain.

Effect of Box Breathing Technique on Lung Function Test

Background: Box breathing exercise is a technique of slow breathing rhythm also known as square breathing used universally. It increases the performance and concentration level, it also acts as a powerful stress relief. It is tested with a spirometer for the lung function test that measures the airflow of the upper and lower respiratory tract. This method builds up carbon dioxide in blood which calms down and regulates the ANS (Autonomic Nervous System), which enhances the cardio- inhibitory response of the vagus nerve that improves the mood. The main aim of the study was to analyze the effect of box breathing technique on lung function Materials and Methods: The present study was carried out among the participants at the age of 18-25 years from Saveetha Dental College. A total of 30 participants were included in this study (15 males, 15 females). The experimental training procedures consisted of 2 sessions of box breathing day and night for a period of 30 days. Participants were informed of the procedures of the box breathing technique. RMS Helios spirometer was used to measure lung volumes and capacities. Statistics analysis was done using SPSS software, paired t test. P value of less than or equal to 0.05 was considered significant statistically. Results: There was a significant increase among the participants FVC (Forced Vital Capacity), FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume), FIVC (Forced Inspiratory Vital Capacity) parameters after 2 sessions on each day of box breathing technique for a period of 30 days. Other parameters increased to 10% but not significantly. Conclusion: The present study illustrates the potential for box breathing practice to improve lung performance and reduce stress in healthy individuals. Despite the significant difference in FVC, FEV, FIVC levels supporting improved lung function, further investigation is needed to delineate mechanisms that underlie these benefits

Benefits from one session of deep and slow breathing on vagal tone and anxiety in young and older adults

Anxiety is recognized as a major health issue and is quite prevalent among older adults. An efficient way to manage anxiety is abdominal breathing. Breathing exercises seem to reduce anxiety and to increase parasympathetic activity assessed by HRV indexes. Yet, the effect of abdominal breathing on physiological stress (HRV) and anxiety in older adults remains poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of this study is to test the effects of deep and slow breathing (DSB, low inhale/exhale ratio) on physiological stress and anxiety in older adults (n = 22) in comparison with younger ones (n = 25). DSB increased significantly HFpower and reduced state anxiety in both younger and older adults. Interestingly, the increased in HF power was significantly higher among older adults than younger ones. As expected, the ratio inhale/exhale being not equal, RMSSD did not increase following DSB. Thus, we provide evidence suggesting that DSB is more beneficial to older adults than younger ones to restore vagal outflow. Despite future work being required, those results provide relevant clinical application leads to manage state anxiety among older adults and to promote successfull aging.

Device and non-device-guided slow breathing to reduce blood pressure in hypertensive patients: a systematic review protocol. (Preprint)

UNSTRUCTURED Introduction: Physiotherapy can include both device-guided slow breathing and device-guided slow breathing in the treatment of systemic arterial hypertension. Methods: A systematic search of all published randomized controlled trials on the effects of device-guided and non-device-guided slow breathing on hypertensive patients, without language restriction, will be carried out until January 2020 in nine databases: Pubmed / MEDLINE (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature ( CINAHL), Scopus, Web of Science, Livivo, as well as a search of clinical trial records databases, CT.GOV (Clinical trials.Gov), and bases for the Open Grey gray literature, Gray Literature Report, ProQuest Central (Citation, Abstract or Indexing and Dissertations and Theses). In all of these databases, potentially eligible studies including completed and ongoing ECAs were researched. The quality assessment of the included studies will be conducted using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for Randomized Trials. The overall quality of the evidence for each outcome will be assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system. Discussion: This systematic review will provide a summary of the current evidence on the effects of both device-guided slow breathing and device-guided slow breathing on blood pressure levels. This information can contribute to decision making by health professionals related to the use of these interventions in hypertensive patients. Following the guidelines, this systematic review protocol was registered with the Prospective International Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) number CRD42020147554.

Slow Breathing Exercise with Multimodal Virtual Reality: A Feasibility Study

Many studies have shown that slow breathing training is beneficial for human health. However, several factors might discourage beginners from continuing their training. For example, a long training period is generally required for benefit realization, and there is no real-time feedback to trainees to adjust their breathing control strategy. To raise the user’s interest in breathing exercise training, a virtual reality system with multimodal biofeedback is proposed in this work. In our system, a realistic human model of the trainee is provided in virtual reality (VR). At the same time, abdominal movements are sensed, and the breathing rate can be visualized. Being aware of the breathing rate, the trainee can regulate his or her breathing to achieve a slower breathing rate. An additional source of tactile feedback is combined with visual feedback to provide a more immersive experience for the trainees. Finally, the user’s satisfaction with the proposed system is reported through questionnaires. Most of the users find it enjoyable to use such a system for mediation training.

Effect of Slow Breathing Exercise on some cardio vascular functions in Type 2 Diabetic Male Patients

Background: Slow breathing exercise (SBE) has some useful effects on cardiovascular system. Objectives: To observe the effects of slow breathing exercise on blood pressure in male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: This interventional study was implemented on sixty (60) diagnosed male type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients aged 45-55 years with disease history 5-10 years, selected from Out Patients Department (OPD) of Endocrinology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka. The subjects were divided into two groups, control group (n=30) included type 2 DM patients without SBE and study group included patients performing SBE for 3 months(n=30) and they were enrolled bypurposive sampling method. The study group was advised to practice SBE for 30 minutes 2 times daily for 3 months. Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure(MAP),pulse pressure(PP) and rate pressure product (RPP)were recorded at the start of the study and after 3 months in both group of patients.. Independent sample t test and paired sample t-test were used for statistical analysis and p<0.05 was taken as statistical significance. Results: In this study, the value of mean HR, SBP, DBP, MAP and RPP were significantly (p<0.05) reduced after 3 months of SBE. Again no significant changes observed (p>0.05) after 3 months in the group who did not practice SBE. Conclusion: Cardiovascular functions in T2DM patients was improved after performing slow breathing exercise for 3 months. J Bngladesh Soc Physiol 2021;16(1): 11-15