Effect of left & right nostril breathing on R-R interval among adult males A cross-sectional study

Background: The nasal cycle is an ultradian rhythm with a periodicity of about 2-8 hours, during which the right and left nares are alternately patent. Pranayama, the yogic system of breathing, is based on the belief that right nostril dominance corresponds to sympathetic arousal and left nostril breathing corresponds to parasympathetic arousal. Alternate nostril breathing exercises have been reported to influence cardio-respiratory and autonomic functions. There is a paucity of literature on the effect of breathing through right or left nostril on cardiovascular and autonomic functions. Also the immediate effects of such a maneuver have not been studied. Hence the present study was aimed at analyzing the R-R interval related to left and right nostril breathing and to get a better understanding about the immediate effects of such breathing maneuver on autonomic function. Materials & methods: 60 healthy adult males between 20-40 years were selected for the study. They were briefed about the breathing maneuver. Subjects were asked to relax completely in supine position for 10 minutes and they were instructed to do right and left nostril breathing for 20 minutes. ECG recording was done during last 5 minutes of different nostril breathing. R-R interval was obtained directly from the computerized ECG system. Students paired t test was done to analyze the statistical significance by using SPSS 17. Results: The mean (+/-SD) R-R interval with left nostril breathing was 851.77+/-14.45 ms, with right nostril breathing was 826.83 +/- 16.91 ms and both nostril breathing was 828.29+/-133.98 ms. The mean R-R interval between right and left nostril breathing was significantly different (p=0.009). Conclusion: Parasympathetic activity is increased with left nostril breathing than right and both nostril breathing.