EFFECT OF YOGIC PRACTICES ON SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE AND LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN AMONG INSOMNIAC AGED OBESE MEN

*N.Elumalai, **Dr.S.Murugesan *Ph.D Scholar (Full Time), Faculty of Yoga Sciences and Therapy, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University), West K.K.Nagar, Chennai – 600078. elumalain1955@gmail.com **Associate Professor, Faculty of Yoga Sciences and Therapy, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research (Deemed to be University), West K.K.Nagar, Chennai – 600078. murugeshyoga@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the random group experimental study was to find out the effect of Yogic Practices on Systolic Blood Pressure and Low Density Lipoprotein among Insomniac aged obese men. For the purpose of the study, 30 Insomniac aged men were selected randomly using random sampling method from Chennai between the age group of 60 and 70 years and they were divided into two groups I, and II with 15 subjects each.  It was hypothesized that there would be significant differences among the Insomniac aged men on selected physiological and Biochemical variables such as Systolic Blood Pressure and Low Density Lipoprotein than the control group. Preliminary test was conducted for two Groups on Systolic Blood Pressure and Low Density Lipoprotein before the start of the training program. Group I subjects were given Yogic practices for 60 minutes, 6 days a week for a total period of eight weeks. Group II (Control Group) were in active rest. After the experimental period, the two groups were retested again on the same selected dependent variables. Analysis of co-variance (ANCOVA) was used to find out the significant differences between the experimental group and the control group. The test of significance was fixed at 0.05 level of confidence. The results of the study proved that the Experimental Group showed significant differences on selected physiological and Biochemical variables such as Systolic Blood Pressure (decreased) and Low Density Lipoprotein (decreased) than the Control Group due to Yogic practices among insomniac old men. The hypothesis was accepted at 0.05 level of confidence. Hence it is concluded that Yogic practices are beneficial to the insomniac old men to maintain healthy Systolic Blood Pressure and Low Density Lipoprotein.

Key words: Yogic Practices, Insomniac old men, Systolic Blood Pressure, Low Density Lipoprotein.

INTRODUCTION

The raising population of old age people is large in general which grow up due to improvement of taking care of awareness in health education. In general, these people are being faced with major physical, psychological and social role changes that challenge their sense of self and capacity to live with happiness in the world. A huge people now experience loneliness and feel depression in the old age, either as a result of living alone or lack of close family tie ups and reduced connections with their culture of their origin, which results inability to actively participate in the community involvements. Because of the advancing age, it is inevitable that people lose connection with their friendship society and they find it very difficult to initiate a new friendship group with a network. The present study was conducted to investigate the relationships among depression, loneliness and sociability among insomniac aged obese men. For statistical and public administrative purposes, the old age is frequently defined as 60 or 65 years of age or older. For a complete health system, yoga not only restores vitality to the body, but also expands the mind and soul. Yoga positions and breathing exercise benefit the circulatory system, the heart, vital organs and remove stiffness and inertia from the body.

The word ‘insomnia’ is broadly defined as dissatisfaction with sleep either qualitatively or quantitatively. It is generally associated with one or more activities like (1) difficulty initiating sleep, (2) difficulty maintaining sleep, characterized by frequent awakenings or problems returning to sleep after awakenings, and (3) early-morning awakening with inability to return to sleep. A search of the literature was conducted to review the epidemiology, definition, and age-related changes in sleep, as well as factors contributing to late-life insomnia and scales utilized for the assessment of insomniac in aged obese men. The purpose is to summarize recent diagnostic guidelines and both nonpharmacological and pharmacological strategies for the management of insomniac among the aged obese men.Insomnia remains a clinical diagnosis. There are several demographic, psychosocial, biologic, and behavioural factors that can contribute to late-life insomnia. Aged obese men are at higher risk for the medical and psychiatric effects of insomnia. The most important aspect in evaluation of insomniac is detailed history taking and thorough physical examination. Nonpharmacological treatment options have favourable and enduring benefits compared to pharmacological therapy.

The practicing yoga has now improved a lot of positive effects among aged men. Yoga is a multidimensional approach to practice that encompasses physical stretching, mental centering and breath awareness, making it an ideal preparation for aged men. Yoga always supports relaxation, inner focus and slowed breathing patterns which are common in many types of improving health condition of aged men. Yoga used to help in relieving many common discomforts of aged men, such as pain in lower back, shoulder, muscular, insomnia, carpal tunnel syndrome and headaches. In addition, prenatal yoga classes are often offering a supportive environment in which aged men can share their experiences, which can help them in relieving feelings of anxiety or depression.

Especially, research suggests that yoga can help ease the complications in health issues of aged men while preparing the muscles of the lower body and knee joints. The breathing techniques used in yoga may help in reducing or managing the shortness of breath which may guide aged men as how to breathe through physically challenging experiences. Yoga techniques may also be useful in promoting physical fitness and coping with the stresses being faced by them.

In recent studies, it is proved that yoga during old age period is safe for most healthy men and may not increase the risk of health complications. The aged men who participate in daily yoga practice have decreased rates of growth complicated ailments. Since yoga involves movement of the body and being considered a type of physical and mental exercise, it is helpful to examine research about exercise among aged men. A pranayama is one more way for the aged men to relax their mind and body. Doing pranayama during old age is an ancient tradition which also pointed out in Hatha Yoga Text etc. Yoga exercise helps to have a positive effect on the development of physical and mental fitness. “Research suggests that yoga can also improve sleep, relieve lower back pain, reduces muscular pain, headaches and shortness of breath. It also helps to lower the risk of many problems which faced by the aged people. Many aged obese men search for ways to improve their quality of life and remain active they enter midlife and later years too. Nationwide, aged men recognize yoga for its ability to slow down and reverse the aging process. .

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY                                                                                                                 

The objective of the study was to find out whether there would be any significant difference on selected Physiological and Biochemical variables such as Systolic Blood Pressure and Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) among insomniac aged obese men.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM        

The purpose of the study was to find out the effect of yogic practices on Systolic Blood Pressure and Low Density Lipoprotein among insomniac aged obese men.

HYPOTHESIS

It was hypothesized that there would be significant differences on Systolic Blood Pressure and Low Density Lipoprotein among insomniac aged obese men due to yogic practices than the control group.

DELIMITATIONS

• The study was delimited to 30 insomniac aged obese men from Chennai city only.
• The study was delimited to the obese men aged between 60 and 70 only.
• The study was delimited to the independent variable yogic practices only
• The dependent variables were restricted to Systolic Blood Pressure and Low Density Lipoprotein only.

LIMITATIONS

• The factors like life style, body structure, and social activities were not taken in to consideration for this study.
• The factors like family heredity and motivational factors were not taken into consideration for this study.
• External factors like environmental and climatic conditions, economical background and also day to day work were not taken into consideration.
• The factors like diet, medication and personal habits were not taken into consideration for the study.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Kumagai, Hiroshi, et. al., (2015) who did studies in obesity has got into global epidemic proportions and is connected with multiple chronicity, including cardiovascular disease. A novel predictor of cardiovascular disease is uplifted central systolic blood pressure. Factually, lifestyle alterations have shown to decrease the central systolic blood pressure in overweight and obese men. The mechanism beneath these variations has yet to be fully explained.  By interesting, testosterone has been found to have cardio preservative effects. Furthermore, serum testosterone levels become lower in obese men than in normal weight men. However, it is not still clear whether testosterone participates in the decrease of central blood pressure in overweight and obese men followed by lifestyle changes. Hence, the purpose of the current study was to explore the effect of testosterone on central systolic blood pressure in overweight and obese men before and after modification program of the 12-week lifestyle. About Forty-four overweight and obese men completed a modification program of 12-week lifestyle (aerobic exercise training and dietary modifications). For all participants who involved in this, central systolic blood pressure and serum testosterone levels were measured before and after the program. After completion of the program, central systolic blood pressure was considerably decreased while serum total testosterone levels were significantly increased in overweight and obese men. Furthermore, we could also found a significant negative relationship between the change in serum testosterone levels and that in central systolic blood pressure. The current study suggests that increased serum testosterone levels probably contribute to a decrease in central blood pressure in overweight and obese men.

Roberts C. K., et. al.,(2006) has studied the significant debate with regard to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and high-fiber, low-fat diets. The current study which was designed to examine the effects of lifestyle modification on the inflammatory/anti-inflammatory properties of HDL in obese men with metabolic syndrome factors.  The selected subjects were placed on a high-fiber, low-fat diet in a three-week homely program where food was provided ad libitum and daily aerobic exercise was easily performed. When fasting blood was drawn pre- and post-intervention for serum lipids, lipid hydroperoxides, and the capacity of subject HDL to alter low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-induced monocyte chemotactic action (MCA) in a human artery wall coculture. Inducting MCA by control LDL in the absence of HDL was normalized Values after HDL addition indicated pro-inflammatory HDL; values as indicated anti-inflammatory HDL. Additionally, proteins involved in regulating HDL function, apolipoprotein, paraoxonase 1 and 3, and platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase were clearly measured. After three-week, decreases in total-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-C, triglycerides, total cholesterol-to-HDL cholesterol ratio, and lipid hydroperoxides were identified. The HDL inflammatory index decreased from pro- to anti-inflammatory. ApoA-I level and paraoxonase activity did not change; however, platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase activity increased. In spite of a quantitative reduction in HDL-C, HDL converted from pro- to anti-inflammatory. These data indicate that intensive lifestyle modification abnormally improves the function of HDL even at the face of reduced levels, suggesting increased turnover of pro-inflammatory HDL.

METHODOLOGY                                                                                           

  To achieve the purpose of the random group experimental study, 60 aged men from the Chennai city came forward between the age from 60 to 70 years, 45 were screened and 30 subjects were selected through random group sampling method and were divided into two groups I and II. Group I was given yogic practices and the group II subjects were in active rest without any training. Preliminary test was conducted for the two groups (I and II) on the selected dependent variables before the start of the training program. The experimental group underwent training for Six days a week for the maximum of an hour in the morning for eight weeks.

Yogic practices such as Pawanmuktasana II, Surya Namaskar followed by Asanas such as Shasangasana, Padahastasana, Katichakrasana, Ardhaustrasana, Vakrasana Trikonasana, Viparita Karani, Matsyasana, Patchimotanasana, Shavasan and Pranayama practices such as Nadishodana Pranyama, Kapalbati, Brahmari Pranayama followed by Yoga Nidra were given to group I subjects.

Group II (Control Group) subjects were permitted to undergo their routine and normal lifestyle during the course of experiment without any specific training.

After eight weeks, the two groups were retested again on the same selected dependent variables such as Systolic Blood Pressure and Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL). The Analysis of Co-variance (ANCOVA) is used as a statistical technique to find out the significant differences between the groups. The test of significance was fixed at 0.05 of confidence.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

TABLE I

COMPUTATION OF ANALYSIS OF COVARIANCE OF TRAINING GROUP AND CONTROL GROUP ON SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE (Scores in mmHg)

TEST	EXP GROUP 1	CONTROL GROUP GROUP2	SOURCE OF VARIANCE	DEGREES OF FREEDOM	SUM OF SQUARES	MEAN SUM OF SQUARES	F-RATIO
Pre	131.27	130.47	Between	1	4.80	4.80	0.19
			With in	28	690.67	24.67
Post	120.67	130.13	Between	1	672.13	672.13	57.54*
			With in	28	327.07	11.68
Adjusted Post	120.50	130.30	Between	1	714.59	714.59	91.54*
			With in	27	210.78	7.81

Significant at 0.05 level of confidence. (Table F-ratio at 0.05 level of confidence for 1 and 28 (df) =4.2, 1 and 27 (df) =4.21)

The obtained F value on pre test scores 0.19 was lesser than the recommended F value of 4.2 to be significant at 0.05 level. This shows that there was no significant difference between the groups before the training period. There is significant differences between groups after the completion of training program, as obtained F value 57.84 was greater than the required F value of 4.20. This proved that the differences between the post-test means of the subject were significant. On account of adjusted pre-post-test mean scores, the obtained F value 91.54 was greater than the required F value of 4.21. This proved that there was a significant difference among the means due to eight weeks of yogic practices on Systolic Blood Pressure in line with the study conducted by KumagaiHiroshi (2015) The ordered adjusted means on Systolic Blood Pressure were presented through bar diagram for better interpretation of the outcome of this study in Figure -1.

Figure – 1

BAR DIAGRAM SHOWING THE MEAN DIFFERENCES AMONG THE GROUPS ON SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE (Scores in mmHg)

*Significant at 0.05 level of confidence. (Table F-ratio at 0.05 level of confidence for 1 and 28 (df) =4.2, 1 and 27 (df) =4.21)

 

TABLE-II

COMPUTATION OF ANALYSIS OF COVARIANCE OF TRAINING GROUPS AND CONTROL GROUP ON LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN (Score in mg/dL)

TEST	EXP GROUP I	CONTROL GROUP GROUP 2	SOURCE OF VARIANCE	DEGREES OF FREEDOM	SUM OF SQUARES	MEAN  SUM OF SQUARES	F-RATIO
Pre	119.40	122.87	Between	1	90.13	90.13	1.26
			With in	28	2009.33	71.76
Post	90.13	123.27	Between	1	8233.63	8233.63	269.11*
			With in	28	856.67	30.60
Adjusted Post	90.65	122.75	Between	1	7392.48	7392.48	295.58*
			With in	27	675.27	25.01

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Significant at 0.05 level of confidence.(Table F-ratio at 0.05 level of confidence for 1 and 28 (df) =4.2, 1 and 27 (df) =4.21)

The obtained F value on pre test scores 1.35 was lesser than the recommended F value of 4.2 to be significant at 0.05 level. This shows that there was no significant difference between the groups before the training period. There is significant differences between groups after the completion of training program, as obtained F value 170.79 was greater than the required F value of 4.20. This proved that the differences between the post-test means of the subject were significant. On account of adjusted pre-post-test mean scores, the obtained F value 216.07 was greater than the required F value of 4.21. This proved that there was a significant difference among the means due to eight weeks of yogic practices on Low Density Lipoprotein in line with the study conducted by Roberts C. K(2006). The ordered adjusted means on Low Density Lipoprotein were presented through bar diagram for better interpretation of the outcome of this study in Figure -2.

 

Figure 2

BAR DIAGRAM SHOWING THE MEAN DIFFERENCE AMONG EXPERIMENTAL AND CONTROL GROUPS ON LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN (Score in mg/dL)

*Significant at 0.05 level of confidence.(Table F-ratio at 0.05 level of confidence for 1  and 28 (df) =4.2, 1 and 27 (df) =4.21)

The outcome of the study exhibits that Systolic Blood Pressure decreased and Low Density Lipoprotein decreased significantly due to Yogic Practices for Group-I than Group II. Hence the hypothesis was accepted at 0.05 level of confidence.

The above findings were also substantiated by the observations made by experts such as Kumagai Hiroshi (2015) and Roberts C. K (2006).

 

DISCUSSION ON HYPOTHESIS

It was hypothesized that there would be significant differences on selected Physiological variable such as Systolic Blood Pressure and Biochemical variable such as Low Density Lipoprotein due to Yogic Practices among insomniac aged obese men than the control group. The results proved that there were significant differences on Systolic Blood Pressure (Decreased) and Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) (Decreased) due to Yogic Practices than the control group among insomniac aged obese men. Hence the hypothesis is accepted at 0.05 level of confidence.

 

CONCLUSION:

It was concluded that Systolic Blood Pressure and Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL)  were decreased among experimental group I compared to control group II due to Yogic Practices among insomniac aged obese men. Hence, Yogic practices are good for insomniac aged obese men to maintain healthy Systolic Blood Pressure and Low Density Lipoprotein.

REFERENCES

• Kumagai, Hiroshi, et al. "Lifestyle modification increases serum testosterone level and decrease central blood pressure in overweight and obese men." Endocrine journal (2015): EJ14-0555.
• Roberts, C. K., Ng, C., Hama, S., Eliseo, A. J., & Barnard, R. J. (2006). Effect of a short-term diet and exercise intervention on inflammatory/anti-inflammatory properties of HDL in overweight/obese men with cardiovascular risk factors. Journal of applied physiology.