Abstract

Background: During the last decade, apart from the other disease conditions, there is a robust rise in respiratory related problems. There is a need to identify cost effective, easily penetrable, and effective intervention in both preventable and disease-modifying domains. Anapanasati is one of the forms of meditation widely being practiced mainly in the southern India. However, most of the works relating to the effects of meditation are focused on parameters related to psychological, cardiovascular, and endocrine system. This study mainly aims at finding the influence of Anapanasati meditation on lung function tests.

Aims and Objectives: This study aims to study and compare the influence of Anapanasati meditation on forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV).

Materials and Methods: Group-A includes 40 healthy male individuals within the age group of 20–40 years who are practicing exclusive Anapanasati meditation continuously for a minimum period of 1 year. Group-B includes 40 healthy, male non-meditators within the same age group. Lung volumes and capacities of all the individuals were evaluated between 10 am to 11 am using spirometry. Study design was case–control study and conducted at Maha Pyramid Center, Kadthal, Telangana state. Data were analyzed using GraphPad InStat software.

Results: Mean and standard deviation of FVC (L), FEV1(L), PEFR(L/s), and MVV(L) in non-meditators is 3.07 ± 0.27, 2.77 ± 0.28, 6.44 ± 0.46, and 100.4 ± 5.78 and in meditators is 3.22 ± 0.16, 2.91 ± 0.16, 6.69 ± 0.48, and 102.05 ± 7.17, respectively. Statistical analysis was done by Student’s t-test and P ˂ 0.05 was considered for statistical significance. Except for MVV all other pulmonary function indicators like FVC, FEV1 and PEFR have shown P˂0.05 (Statistically significant).

Conclusion: Hence, FVC, FEV1, and PEFR are significantly increased in individuals who are practicing Anapanasati meditation technique over a period of 1 year continuously but MVV did not show any significant variation.

Key words: Anapanasati; Meditation; Pulmonary Function Tests; Pyramid