We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Breathing Guidance Device Improves PTSD Symptoms

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 18 Apr 2019
Print article
Image: An innovative breathing device helps control PTSD symptoms (Photo courtesy of Resperate).
Image: An innovative breathing device helps control PTSD symptoms (Photo courtesy of Resperate).
A new study suggests that device-guided breathing may improve physiological symptoms in people with severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Researchers at Emory University (Atlanta, GA, USA) conducted a study to explore the use of the Resperate (Tel Aviv, Israel) RESPeRATE breathing device as a means to regulate sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure control in military veterans with PTSD. Diagnosis and severity of PTSD in each volunteer were confirmed using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS). The volunteers were then divided into two groups--moderate or severe--based on CAPS results. Within each group, the participants were randomly assigned to the RESPeRATE breathing device or to a sham device.

The RESPeRATE device measures inhalation and exhalation rates through a band of sensors worn around the abdomen connected to a control unit with an LCD display. During use, it produces musical tones that are played through headphones in order to guide the user to successfully achieve a slower-than-normal rate of breathing of just five to six breaths per minute. The sham device used in the study works in the same fashion, but guides the user to breathe 14 breaths per minute, within the normal range of regular breathing rates.

The results showed that both heart rate and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) were reduced substantially in the severe PTSD group using the breathing device, when compared to the device-using moderate group. Volunteers with moderate PTSD who used RESPeRATE also showed an improvement in both factors, but the positive changes were not as significant as in those with more severe PTSD. The study was presented at the American Physiological Society (APS) annual meeting, held during April 2019 in Orlando (FL, USA).

“A non-pharmacological intervention such as device-guided breathing could be beneficial in the treatment of PTSD, especially in severe cases,” said lead author undergraduate student Monica Vemulapalli. “Further work is needed to determine if device-guided breathing could reduce the risk of future hypertension in this population; if device-guided breathing can lead to sustained reductions in MSNA, then it could potentially reduce risk of hypertension.”

PTSD is a mental health condition that may develop after a person has experienced a traumatic or life-threatening event, including military combat, natural disasters, and physical or sexual abuse. Flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety, which are associated with PTSD, can lead to physical manifestations, such as episodes of rapid breathing, muscle tension, and short-term increases in heart rate and blood pressure, increasing the long-term risk of hypertension and heart disease.

Related Links:
Emory University
Resperate

Gold Member
Solid State Kv/Dose Multi-Sensor
AGMS-DM+
Gold Member
Disposable Protective Suit For Medical Use
Disposable Protective Suit For Medical Use
Silver Member
Compact 14-Day Uninterrupted Holter ECG
NR-314P
New
Medical Gas Blender
BlenderBuddy 1

Print article

Channels

Critical Care

view channel
Image: The permeable wearable electronics developed for long-term biosignal monitoring (Photo courtesy of CityUHK)

Super Permeable Wearable Electronics Enable Long-Term Biosignal Monitoring

Wearable electronics have become integral to enhancing health and fitness by offering continuous tracking of physiological signals over extended periods. This monitoring is crucial for understanding an... Read more

Surgical Techniques

view channel
Image: NTT and Olympus have begun the world\'s first joint demonstration experiment of a cloud endoscopy system (Photo courtesy of Olympus)

Cloud Endoscopy System Enables Real-Time Image Processing on the Cloud

Endoscopes, which are flexible tubes inserted into the body's natural openings for internal examination and biopsy collection, are becoming increasingly vital in medical diagnostics. Their minimal invasiveness... Read more

Health IT

view channel
Image: First ever institution-specific model provides significant performance advantage over current population-derived models (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai)

Machine Learning Model Improves Mortality Risk Prediction for Cardiac Surgery Patients

Machine learning algorithms have been deployed to create predictive models in various medical fields, with some demonstrating improved outcomes compared to their standard-of-care counterparts.... Read more

Point of Care

view channel
Image: The PATHFAST hs-cTnI-II high-sensitivity troponin assay has been developed for the PATHFAST Biomarker Analyzer (Photo courtesy of Polymedco)

POC Myocardial Infarction Test Delivers Results in 17 Minutes

Chest pain is the second leading cause of emergency department (ED) visits by adults in the United States, generating over 7 million visits annually. In the event of a suspected heart attack, physicians... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.