ABSTRACT
The study was conducted on 100 pregnant women in third trimester of uncomplicated pregnancy (Test group) and 100 age-matched non-pregnant women (Control group) in the age group of 25 to 35 years. Pulmonary function test parameters FVC, FEV1, PEFR and FEF25-75% recorded using Medspiror. The FEV1/FVC ratio was calculated. All parameters except FEV1/ FVC ratio were found to decline in the Test group as compared to the Control group. The decrease in FEV1 with pregnancy was not of such amplitude as decrease in FVC, and hence FEV1/FVC ratio was seen to increase. This study validates the physiological changes in pulmonary function brought by pregnancy and highlights the need to compile expected and accepted alterations in predicted values of PFT in comparison with the non gravid states for safer outcome of the pregnancy.
ABSTRACT
The role of yoga breathing exercises, as an adjunct treatment for bronchial asthma is well recognized. One hundred twenty patients of asthma were randomized into two groups i.e Group A (yoga training group) and Group B (control group). Each group included sixty patients. Pulmonary function tests were performed on all the patients at baseline, after 4 weeks and then after 8 weeks. Majority of the subjects in the two groups had mild disease (34 patients in Group A and 32 in Group B). Group A subjects showed a statistically significant increasing trend (P<0.01) in % predicted peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced mid expiratory flow in 0.25–0.75 seconds (FEF25-75) and FEV1/FVC% ratio at 4 weeks and 8 weeks as compared to Group B. Thus, yoga breathing exercises used adjunctively with standard pharmacological treatment significantly improves pulmonary functions in patients with bronchial asthma.