Resperate: Can it help reduce blood pressure?

Updated: 2022-02-18

Answer Section

Resperate is a portable electronic device that's promoted to achieve slow, deep breathing. The device is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for reducing stress and lowering blood pressure. It's available without a prescription.

Resperate uses chest sensors to measure breathing, and then sends the real-time information to a small device worn on a belt. The device creates a melody to listen to and synchronize breathing. The melody is supposed to help the user slow breathing with long exhalations.

Resperate is intended to be used at least 15 minutes a day, three to four days a week. Within a few weeks, the device-guided slow breathing (DGSB) exercises may help lower both the top (systolic) and bottom (diastolic) numbers in a blood pressure reading.

Research involving the device has shown that slow breathing (less than 10 breaths a minute) can cause a modest but significant decrease in blood pressure in some people. It's unclear how long the effects last, or if continued use lowers blood pressure even more. But slow breathing is inexpensive and easy to do and there are few, if any, side effects. DGSB may be a first option for people at low cardiac risk who don't want to take medications.

If you have high blood pressure, it's important to have regular checkups with a health care provider. Your health care provider may be able to tell you if slow breathing exercises, including device-guided slow breathing, can help your blood pressure.