How’s Your Blood Pressure?

New Device Uses Breathing to Keep BP in Check By Jim Evans

According to the American Heart Association, more than 65 million Americans older than 20 — almost one in every three adults — suffer from high blood pressure, and 30 percent of them don’t even know they have it.

Scary? You bet — especially because high blood pressure is often a precursor to heart attacks and strokes.

Fortunately, the majority of people with high blood pressure are actively trying to keep it under control, either through medication or lifestyle changes or a combination of both. But sometimes even these measures don’t work, and high blood pressure medication often causes unpleasant side effects.

But now a new device — RESPeRATE — has been introduced as the first FDA-approved nondrug medical device that can be safely used in conjunction with medication and lifestyle modifications. It has been clinically proven to reduce blood pressure without side effects.

The portable, hand-held computerized electronic device guides users through a series of breathing exercises that cause the muscles around the small blood vessels to relax, thereby reducing blood pressure. The breathing exercises are personalized to each individual.

Sound too simple? According to research by InterCure, the New Jersey maker of RESPeRATE, research shows that “structured therapeutic breathing, if performed without an effort or particular concentration, can significantly lower blood pressure.” However, since such therapeutic breathing is difficult to achieve without extensive training and coaching, RESPeRATE takes over by establishing a “personalized melody composed of two distinct inhale and exhale guiding tones.” Users listen to the melody through special headphones and synchronize their breathing to the tones.

Seven separate clinical studies established that RESPeRATE reduced the systolic pressure (the upper number in a blood pressure reading) by up to 36 points (an average of 14 points) and the diastolic pressure (the lower number) by up to 20 points (an average of 9 points) after eight weeks of regular use. The usage was usually three to four sessions of 15 minutes each.

A study published in the American Journal of Hypertension found that RESPeRATE even reduced high blood pressure when three or more medications were taken at maximum dosage.

RESPeRATE does not require a prescription. However, people with certain medical conditions should consult their physician before using it, because these particular conditions were not included as part of the clinical trials.

According to InterCure, these conditions include: active ischemic heart disease/unstable angina; severe congestive heart failure; chronic atrial fibrillation; stroke resulting in permanent impairment; chronic renal failure; severe asthma; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); chronic bronchitis and emphysema; major organ failure; and sleep paralysis.

The fact that some readers might have these conditions does not necessarily preclude their use of RESPeRATE, but their physicians will be in the best position to evaluate whether or not it would interfere with any current treatment.

For more information, visit www.resperate.com. High blood pressure is no laughing matter, and readers may find this to be a valuable tool in managing their blood pressure in the future.