Abdominal Breathing Increases Tear Secretion in Healthy Women


Author: Kokoro Sano 1, Motoko Kawashima 2, Kazuhiro Ikeura 1, Reiko Arita 1, Kazuo Tsubota 1

Affiliation: 1 Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

2 Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: motoko-k@a3.keio.jp.
Conference/Journal: Ocul Surf.
Date published: 2015 Jan
Other:
 Volume ID: 13   ,  Issue ID: 1   ,  Pages: 82-7   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2014.08.002   ,  Word Count: 160  
        PMID: 25557347 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtos.2014.08.002



Abstract

Purpose: To determine the relationship between abdominal breathing and tear meniscus volume in healthy women, we investigated the change in tear meniscus volume in two groups: normal breathing and abdominal breathing.



Methods: We used a crossover experimental model and examined 20 healthy women aged 20-54 years (mean ± SD, 32.7 ± 11.1 years). The participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups. During the first visit, the normal breathing group was subjected to normal breathing for 3 min, whereas the abdominal breathing group was subjected to abdominal breathing (4-second inhalation and 6-second exhalation) for 3 min. During the second visit, the protocols were swapped between the two groups. We estimated the R wave to R wave (R-R) interval, tear meniscus volume, salivary amylase activity, pulse, and blood pressure before and immediately after, 15 min after, and 30 min after completion of the breathing activity.



Results: After abdominal breathing, compared to that before breathing, the tear meniscus volume increased significantly 15 min after breathing (P