Hypertension

HYPERTENSION/Deep Breathing - A personal History


6th November, 2006

I am a healthy male, 74 years of age, who has always taken, and still do take, reasonable exercise like walking and cycling. I have never smoked or suffered any illness requiring hospitalisation. I was Police Officer and retired in 1983 aged 50. A full medical examination at the time of retiral pronounced me fit with no health problems. At that time my Blood Pressure readings were stated to be normal with my lung capacity being very good, in fact the Doctor queried the first lung capacity reading and made me do it again, only to get a higher reading.

In 1986 I was diagnosed as having Hypertension - I think caused by either too much physical strain or mental worry at that time. My Doctor sent me to a consultant and, after examination, he prescribed tablets Innovace 20mg and Moduret 5mg. Shortly after I began taking these tablets I felt that I was having difficulty with my balance, so I reduced my intake of these tablets to every second day. After about one year of this I had my Doctor reduce the prescription to Innovace 10mg. This reduction in pill strength continued by stages over the next two years until finally the dose was reduced to Innovace 2.5 mg and Moduret 2.5mg – both the lowest dose available. I found that this prescription gave me readings of around 140 systolic and 90 diastolic.

In 2001, on the Internet, I discovered a Chinese developed Bio-Electric apparatus (Acupuncture basis) named Jia-Jun. See www.tcmhospital.com. I bought the JiaJun and used it twice each day, and in Conjunction with the prescribed pills, from 2001 until June, 2006, when I ceased use of both pills and Jia-Jun.

During 2004 and 2005 I found that I was occasionally suffering from pains at joints in my feet. In March 2006 my feet swelled and were so painful that I could not walk for one week. I had GOUT ! On visiting my Doctor he said that the Gout was caused by the Moduret tablet. Over the next two weeks running I was prescribed a course of 12 tablets for the gout each week. I have not had Gout since. When prescribing for the Gout my Doctor advised NOT taking any Hypertension tablets in order to clear my system. This lasted four weeks. I was then prescribed an Ace inhibitor tablet plus an Istin tablet. I eventually found that these tablets gave me readings of around 180systolic and 99diastolic – I did not use the JiaJun during this period. Not happy with these readings, in August, 2006, I searched the Internet for any alternative treatment and discovered the Deep Breathing systems Resperate and Breatheasy.

I closely studied the Resperate Web-site, especially their Demo Video, noting the timing of the Breathing sequences. < NOTE that Resperate removed this video from their site in early 2007. I now recommend viewing the Breatheasy Demo on www.control-your-blood-pressure.com I began experimenting with deep breathing on 28th August, 2006. I found that taking a Deep breath, holding it while counting up to 5, then slowly releasing my breath while counting from 6 to 12 was comfortable. After a while I found that the 12 could be comfortably increased to 20 - in increments of 2 as found comfortable. IT WORKED from the very beginning with the result that Wednesday, 30th August, 2006, was the last time I took the prescription pills. From then on readings varied between 168 down to 137 systolic and 98 down to 72 diastolic. However, during these five days I was experimenting with breathing, and the possibility of Hypertension tablet residue being still in my body may have had an effect.. ADDITIONALLY please note that this was during the first 5 days and the recommendation is 8 weeks before results can be relied on. I also found that taking reasonably active exercise – usually walking – was beneficial.

My first reading, taken during the forenoon of 28th August, was 180/96. A little later that same forenoon I had a deep breathing 15 minute session as described above. My reading at noon was 134/85 and at 2300 hrs 143/75. Since then the readings have fluctuated, but always below 185/100, and commonly within the 160/95 range.

On Thursday, 7th September, 2006, I took delivery of the Breatheasy system. On the evening of 7th and morning of 8th I tried out CD one of both Classical and Sonosync I found tracks 1,2 and 3 did not suit my breathing pattern - probably due to what I had been doing these last 10 days - while Tracks 4 and 5 on each I found comfortable.

However, I much prefer the Sonosync CD. With the Classical I found that I frequently missed the IN or OUT sound because either it was too fast, too soft or I was concentrating on the Classical music. I have my own classical music collection and loved the music, but that possibly disturbed my breathing concentration. With the Sonosync I appreciated the tinkling water background and the breathing sound was just that little bit louder while the Sonosync sounds, not being orchestrated, were very relaxing and required no thought at all. Sonosync Disc one - tracks 4 and 5, plus CDs two and three suit me fine.

On 9th September forenoon I ran track 2 of Sonosync CD Two. At the start I noticed that if I followed the breathe-in sound timing, I did not have my lungs fully inflated. I adjusted and thereafter fully inflated my lungs each time, which meant inhaling for a short time after the inhale sound had ended. At the end of that 15 minute session I relaxed for 5 minutes and then took a reading. It was 132/79 – the lowest overall so far. I should also mention that during this fuller lung expansion session I felt a slight “tingling” sensation in my fingers, and to a lesser extent in my feet. I had previously experienced this same sensation during the first week when doing my own full intake expansion breathing – as detailed above. It may be that full expansion of the lungs is beneficial. (I experienced something similar when I had been using the JiaJun)

Readings Recorded from 7th September. Week 1 – Encouraging, Week 2 – Varied and confusing, Week 3 – still varied and confusing. In Week 4, on Saturday, 23rd September, having tried various breathing rates and inflations as well as the Breatheasy, I reverted to the Breatheasy only. I use the CD Sonosync System with full lung inflation through the Diaphram on the Breathe-in phase. As with my own findings originally, the results were encouraging. The readings, taken about half an hour after using the Breatheasy, were :- Forenoon 114/85, Afternoon - followjng 3 mile walk - 137/83, and Evening 135/83.
Having said that, I find that if I take a reading just before rising from bed, those readings are always higher, but not excessively so.

During weeks 5 and 6 I found the readings to fluctuate between those above and highest reading of 201/115. I also found a tendency to Breathlessness. This was alleviated after a few deep breaths and may be a re-action to returning to my normal shallow breathing. I am currently trying to make the deeper breathing an automatic function. As the indications are good, I will continue with Breatheasy to ascertain whether or not my Hypertension readings do settle down to an overqall acceptable level.

During weeks 7 and 8 I was on holiday and reverted to my original breathing system of counting 3, 3 and 6.
I did not have my pressure monitor with me on holiday..

On returning home I immediately went back onto the Breatheasy system. I do this for 15 minutes each forenoon about 10.00, wait for 20 minutes and then take my pressure. The results are most satisfactory. Over the last 10 days the Highest Systolic was160 and lowest 122, with Diastolic highest 93 and lowest 66. The lowest reading was 122/66 at 4pm after a walk of some 3 miles. One hour later 165/79 – I had just sat down and did not wait to relax.

I have now settled down to a pattern of using Breathe Easy around 10 or 11 am each day and, in week 9 experiencing good pressure readings over a whole day. Today, 6th November 2006, 11am 134/87, 1300 hrs 131/91 and 1800 hrs 159/85

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FIRST UPDATE on 2nd January, 2007.

Since 6th November, 2006, I have continued to use Breatheasy once each day, usually in the forenoon, but occasionally in the evening when other considerations prevent me using Breatheasy during the forenoon.

When using Breatheasy I now inflate the upper chest first then extend inflation down into the Diaphragm. This gives me full inflation of the lungs just before the Breathe-Out sound begins. When using Breatheasy, I am conscious of the need to relax, especially the upper chest/shoulders. Exercise (walking/cycling) and keeping my weight to the recommended level for my height – 6’ 2” –13.5 stone, appears to be important.

I keep a record of pressure readings, although not taken every day nor at the same time each day. The results continue to be most encouraging, e.g :-

Readings taken on 8th December, showed :
1000 – 165/102 1830 – 119/112 2300 – 120/110

21st December was :
0900 – 130/82 1000 – 133/92 1200 – 91/55 (immediately after 2 mile walk and no rest before taking reading, see 1215) 1215 – 131/93 1730 – 138/89 1930 – 132/87 2230 – 134/89

Since 21st December, 2006, my readings are below 165 Systolic and 90 Diastolic, apart from single readings (two or three in the same day) of Systolic 168, 162,172 and 168, plus Diastolic 103, 104, 92, 103, 94, 91. These over a period of 14 days. During this period I have never had a reading higher than those shown. Previously, without drugs I could expect Systolic 200+ and Diastolic 110+, and with drugs 180+ and 100+


Today, 2nd January, 2007, my readings were :-
1130 – 121/91, 1130 plus 5 minutes at 1135 - 134/80, 1330 – 121/82, 1800 – 136/76. 1900 – 133/84 and 2000 – 131/84

I now expect to follow this pattern for some time to come. I do not expect to cure 25 years of Hypertension in a few months.

I have found that the ONLY problem with Breatheasy is that you find it difficult to believe that something so simple and easy to use, actually works !

My advice is - have faith, keep to a regular programme of use, maintain a record and believe in Breatheasy because - IT WORKS !,

William Reid, 2nd January, 2007



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