RESPeRATE

November 8, 2007 (WLS) -- High blood pressure is not just for the middle aged and senior citizens anymore.

A new study released just last week finds cholesterol and blood pressure medications by young adults appear to be rising at a faster pace than among senior citizens. High blood pressure and cholesterol are dangerous health problems that can sometimes only be solved with drugs. But what if you could lower your blood pressure by taking a few deep breaths?

You can blame it on stress, obesity or genetics. Whatever it is, an estimated one in three American adults has high blood pressure. That means a higher risk of all kinds of health problems, such as heart disease, stroke and kidney failure. Time to break out the medication, right? Maybe not.

Instead, some people are turning to RESPeRATE. It helps patients breathe slower and deeper.

"Low and behold, I did notice that you know, my blood pressure did drop," said user Gerardo Ortega.

At the young age of 33, Ortega was diagnosed with slightly elevated hypertension. He wanted to avoid drugs, so the busy father is watching his diet, trying to exercise more and is now using RESPeRATE.

"Patients that I think benefit from this most are patients who have earlier stages of hypertension, people who's blood pressure fluctuates a lot where they are under some stress," said Dr. Jospeh Marek, cardiologist, Midwest Heart Specialists.

Marek has been prescribing RESPeRATE for years. It works like this: a thin strap goes around the chest to measure breathing. Headphones play personalized rhythmic music that responds to the breathing, eventually prompting you to slow down. The idea is to get to the so-called therapeutic zone of less than 10 breaths per minute.

Clinical trials by the device's maker showed people who used RESPeRATE for 15 minutes a day for two months saw their blood pressure drop 10 to 15 points and also noticed a reduction in stress. Some people were able to get off medication while others were able to cut back. The device is approved by the FDA as an additional therapy for the treatment for hypertension.

"It's a sort of effortless way of slowing down the breathing that is based on biofeedback. What you are doing is fed to the machine and then it feeds back to you what you should be doing next," said Dr. William J. Elliott, hypertension specialist, Rush University Medical Center.

Dr. Elliot wanted to see if the beneficial effects of RESPeRATE lasts. He helped the company test the device and found. It works, but the user has to be committed.

Meditation, yoga and similar relaxation techniques that include slow, deep breathing have long been thought to aid blood pressure. Exactly why slow breathing works is still a mystery...but doctors suspect muscles surrounding blood vessels in the body relax. That allows blood to flow more smoothly. In return, it allows blood pressure to drop. Slower breathing may also have a long lasting impact on the central nervous system. And it may also reduce stress hormones.

"I was probably running most of my life at Def con 4," said heart patient Steve Juhasz.

Juhasz is talking about his stressful life. The print shop owner takes a cocktail of medications to control his blood pressure. After two and a half years on RESPeRATE. He says his medication hasn't increased.. And he's been able to get rid of one of the drugs.

"You're body just relaxes..It's almost euphoric. I want that feeling all the time," said Juhasz.

Doctors say the most important thing to remember is RESPeRATE does not replace a good diet and exercise program but should be considered a complement to a healthier lifestyle. Also, even if it doesn't get you off medication, It could help you lower your medication dose enough to reduce side effects. The cost is $300 with a 100 percent money back guarantee. It's not covered by all insurance.

RESPeRATE
www.RESPeRATE.com

William J. Elliott, M.D., PH.D.
HYPERTENSION SPECIALIST
www.rush.edu

1700 W. Van Buren St.
Ste. 470
Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: (312) 942-3133
Fax: (312) 563-2746

Joseph Marek, M.D.
www.midwestheart.com
3825 Highland Park Ave
Suite 400
Downers Grove, Il.
60515
630-719-4799

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