 More than 50 million Americans, nearly one in four adults, have high blood pressure. The FDA has recently approved a device that promises to lower blood pressure without drugs or complicated treatments.
The RESPeRATE is a device that guides the user through exercises that slow their breathing. RESPeRATE is based on the fact that breathing exercises can lower blood pressure by relaxing the muscles surrounding the small blood vessels, thereby allowing blood to flow more freely.
Clinical studies found that after eight weeks of three to four 15-minute sessions per week, patients’ blood pressure was lowered by an average of 14 systolic points (the upper number in a blood pressure reading), and nine diastolic points (the lower number in a blood pressure reading). Amazingly, this lowering of blood pressure is a sustained reduction. The machine lowers your blood pressure not just when you are in the process of using the machine, but day in and day out, just as a medication would. In fact, RESPeRATE looks like a gadget, but it acts like a drug. The real advantage of this machine is it is not a drug and has no side effects.
Medication, diet and exercise are often not enough to lower blood pressure. More than 70% of hypertension, (high blood pressure), patients in the U.S., (approximately 35 million Americans), do not have the disease under control. The RESPeRATE offers a drug-free way to lower blood pressure, either on its own or in conjunction with any blood pressure lowering medication you may be currently taking.
I was skeptical, not so much as to the benefits of therapeutic breathing, but as to the product itself. How could a machine make you breathe more slowly? Wouldn’t it be difficult? Wouldn’t it feel artificial? My first experience with RESPeRATE dispelled my fears. The device comes with a simple five-minute video that explains how it works. A flexible belt is positioned around the body. The pair of included headphones is put over the ears. The device itself has a small, but adequately visible display screen.
You begin by breathing regularly. The RESPeRATE gets in sync with your breathing. The audio begins with two different tones, one for breathing in and one for breathing out. The display screen shows a man with arrows coming out of his mouth for the out breath and arrows going in for the in breath. It is very easy to follow. After several minutes, the man disappears and leaves you to your breathing. The machine tones guide you through systematically slowing your breathing that turned out to be a very relaxing experience.
Since my blood pressure is in the normal range, I don’t have to use the RESPeRATE solely for reducing my blood pressure. I found, however, that I like using the RESPeRATE just for its relaxation qualities. My husband, who has slightly elevated blood pressure, also tried out the RESPeRATE. After several weeks’ use, both of our blood pressure readings were lowered by several points.
The newest RESPeRATE called the RESPeRATE Duo can hold the readings for two people separately, so you and your partner can both use the machine quite easily.
The RESPeRATE is easy to use, and well designed. The belt and cords fit right inside the machine. The comfortable headphones fit nicely around the outside of the compact unit. RESPeRATE even comes with its own little carrying case.
It is a documented fact that simply controlling high blood pressure leads to substantial reductions in the risk of cardiovascular disease, like stroke, congestive heart failure and heart attack. Many people will find the RESPeRATE a valuable tool in staying healthier by wisely managing their blood pressure.
The RESPeRATE is $299. The RESPeRATE Duo is $349.
Click here to purchase RESPeRATE.
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