Effect of Structured Nadi Shodhana Pranayama and SwasthavrittaBased Lifestyle Modification in Stage 1 Essential Hypertension: A Case Report
*¹Harsh Jamanbhai Baldha and ²Rahul Jadhav
1Department of Swasthavritta and Yoga, Parul Institute of Ayurveda and Research, Parul University, Vadodara - 391760 (India) ORCID iD: 0009-0009-6281-9234 2Department of Swasthavritta and Yoga, Parul Institute of Ayurveda and Research, Parul University, Vadodara - 391760 (India) Corresponding Author: *Dr. Harsh Jamanbhai Baldha Email: harshbaldha21@gmail.com Phone: +91 7383692876
ABSTRACT
One important modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity worldwide is stage 1 essential hypertension. The first line of treatment should be non-pharmacological. Vascular tone and autonomic balance may be enhanced by yogic breathing practices and lifestyle changes based on Swasthavritta. A 42-year-old male with newly diagnosed Stage 1 hypertension (mean baseline BP 136/86 mmHg) was enrolled. The baseline waist circumference was 98 cm and the BMI was 27.4 kg/m². The patient complained of excessive salt intake, erratic sleep patterns, and significant perceived stress. For 12 weeks, structured Nadi Shodhana pranayama (20 minutes per day) was combined with lifestyle counselling based on Swasthavritta. SBP dropped 12 mmHg and DBP dropped 8 mmHg at 12 weeks. Between 84 and 72 beats per minute, the resting pulse rate dropped. Both the stress score and the quality of sleep considerably improved. Clinically significant BP reduction was shown by structured pranayama in conjunction with lifestyle modification, indicating autonomic modulation as a likely mechanism