Abstract

EFFECT OF YOGA ON PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTS IN HYPER REACTORS TO COLD PRESSOR TEST IN YOUNG HEALTHY MEDICAL STUDENTS

Awasthi Prateek Prabhaker, Dr. Rajak Chanda*, Rampalliwar S., Pathak Santosh Kumar, Namdeo D.P. and Singh Sudhir

ABSTRACT

Background: Stress response is a complex emotion that produces physiological changes to prepare us for fight-or-flight, to defend ourselves from the threat or flee from it. It is a silent killer and prolonged exposure to stress may exert harmful effects on physical, psychological and behavioral well-being of an individual. Stress-related disorders evolve gradually and effectsmainly autonomic, cardiovascular, respiratory and immune systems. Objective: The aim of present study was to investigate whether regular practice of Yoga for six months can reduce respiratory reactivity induced by cold pressor test. Material and method: The present study included 100 medical students of first M.B.B.S. of 18 to 25years of age. After recording the basal pulmonary parameters of all the 100 students, reactivity to cold pressor was measured by application of cold pressor test devised by Hines & Brown (1936). 70 subjects were found to be hyper reactor to this test. These hyper reactors underwent Yogic exercises, Bhastrika and Anulom-vilom Pranayama and meditation 30 minutes daily for the duration of 24 weeks. Before and after the yogic training period the FEV1, FVC and MVV was measured which was found to be significantly improved. Statistically by using student„ t‟ test Result: Regular practice of yoga for 6 months significantly improved the pulmonary functions. Conclusion: We concluded that regular practice of yoga for six months improves the mean FEV1, FVC and MVV parameters.

Keywords: Stress, Yoga, Cold pressor test, Pulmonary Functions, FEV1, FVC and MVV.