The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

  • Recent Posts

  • Recent Comments

    Device-guided paced breathing to lower blood pressure

    Dr. William Elliott who is professor of preventive medicine and internal medicine and pharmacology at Rush Medical College in Chicago believes, “Device-guided paced breathing may offer an effective, simple, and new nonpharmacological option for treating high blood pressure [BP].”

    Here’s a summary of clinical studies using the RESPeRATE device.

    All listed results are significantly better than placebo.

    Journal of Human Hypertension, 2001

    • Reduced systolic BP, diastolic BP, and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) by 15, 10 and 12 mm Hg, respectively
    • Benefits lasted 6 months after treatment stopped

    Journal of Human Hypertension, 2001 (a second study)

    • 33 adults with uncontrolled high blood pressure
    • Home-measured BP was lowered by 5/3 mm Hg
    • 10 of 18 (56%) were defined as responders

    American Journal of Hypertension, 2004

    • Reduced home BP by 5/3 mm Hg

    Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 2004

    • Greater decreases in systolic BP for those who spent more than 180 minutes over 8 weeks in slow breathing training (-15 vs. -7 mm Hg)

    American Journal of Hypertension, 2003

    • Home BP was lowered by 6/3 mm Hg without side effects
    • 82% were responders

    The bottom line?

    • Systolic blood pressure (the higher number) can be lowered by 5 to 15 mm Hg.
    • Benefit is possible in patients with “uncontrolled” high blood pressure.
    • Those who spend more time learning the technique achieve better results.
    • The benefits remain after the training ends.

    Compared to other nonpharmacological treatments, device-guided paced breathing works pretty well as a complement to pharmacological therapy.

    • Salt restriction: -2-8 mm Hg
    • Weight loss: -5-20 mm Hg/10 kg (22lb) weight loss
    • Exercise: -4-9 mm Hg
    • Moderate alcohol consumption: -2-4 mm Hg

    4/6/07 12:57 JR

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