| Physiological effects of slow breathingexercises | ||
| Respiratory system | Cardiovascular system | Cardiorespiratory system |
| - Generally coincides with increased tidal volume and may enhance diaphragmatic excursion - Enhances ventilation efficiency and arterial oxygenation via alveolar recruitment, and distension and reduction of alveolar dead space - Moderates chemoreflex sensitivity | - Increases venous return → increases filling of the right heart → increases stroke volume → increases cardiac output - Causes blood pressure pulse fluctuations to synchronize with heart beat rhythm - Synchronization of vasomotion - May entrain and enhance vasomotion (and microflow), i.e. to improve blood oxygenation - Increases HRV and blood pressure fluctuations - May decrease mean blood pressure | - Augments LF HRV and baroreflex sensitivity - Increases RSA (maximises around 6 breaths per min (resonant frequency) - Improves pulmonary gas exchange efficiency - minimises cardiac work - buffers blood pressure fluctuations - Clustering of heartbeats within inspiratory phase (cardiorespiratory coupling) - Synchronization of pulse harmonics of blood flow and heart rhythm |