Effect of six-week pranayama training on serum levels of cortisol and blood pressure in pregnant women in the third trimester

Abstract

Introduction: The elevation of stress hormones at the end of pregnancy will cause many problems, including a change in blood pressure. The extreme enhancement of gestational hypertension is associated with dangers, such as intrauterine growth restriction, preterm birth, placental abruption, and stillbirth. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of six weeks of pranayama training during the third trimester of pregnancy on serum cortisol and blood pressure levels in pregnant women. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 18 women in the third trimester of pregnancy referring to a specialized gynecological clinic in Babol, Iran. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups of pranayama (n = 8) and control (n = 10). The pranayama group performed relaxation and respiratory exercises for 6 weeks (two 60-minute sessions a week). Fasting blood pressure measurement and blood sampling (using median cubital vein) were performed in resting conditions 48 h before and after the implementation of the intervention. The data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 23) using Shapiro-Wilk test, as well as independent and paired sample t-tests. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The results showed that pranayama training significantly decreased serum cortisol levels (P = 0.035). Furthermore, diastolic blood pressure in the pranayama group showed a significant decrease compared with that in the control group (P = 0.001). However, there was no significant difference between pranayama training and control groups in terms of systolic blood pressure (P = 0.079). Conclusion: Given the importance of the third trimester of pregnancy, pranayama exercises can be used to control blood pressure and other stress complications in case of high stress in pregnant women. © 2018, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.

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IJOGI, Vol. 21, No. 6, pp. 55-63, Aug 2018

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       
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
       
     
     
 




     

      

       
      
      
-


        

 

        
       


 


      
   

       




       


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



        
 
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










       
        

     

       



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

        

       

        

       

       



     
       

        
±      
±     

      

 
     

       





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
      
       
       
      











       

       
      
     

       
±   
±
  
    
 


        
        
       




 


ZELLBIO     
     
       

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
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     


       


      ±


       
      
 
      

       

      

        
      
       
        
       
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      
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      


        
     
      
       
 
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       
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       
       
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      
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       
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       
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      


       

  



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
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

      
 

    
       
 

       

      
 



      

     
     
      
    
   


 



       

      
-


     
    ACTH



       
     






        

        

      
       



      






-
         



       


      


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      
      
    
      


      



  
         



         
      
       

      
 
       
  
  
         


      


 
      





      

       
        




 

 
       


       
       








       
       
       





 


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
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  
        

-
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