THE EFFECT OF SLOW DEEP BREATHING ON CHANGES IN BLOOD PRESSURE OF THE ELDERLY WITH HYPERTENSION

Abstract

Hypertension was an increased in systolic and diastolic blood pressure above normal limits. Age is a factor in hypertension, in old age there is a narrowing of blood vessels resulting in an increase in blood pressure. Treatment of hypertension can be done non-pharmacologically, one of which is slow deep breathing. This study aims to determine the effect of slow deep breathing on blood pressure changes in elderly people with hypertension. The research design used was Pre-Experimental with the One Group Pretest- Posttest Design. The population in this study were all elderly people with hypertension in Garu Hamlet, Podoroto Village, Kec. Kesamben Kab. Jombang as many as 34 elderly. The sample in this study were 34 respondents with the total sampling technique. The research instrument uses a digital sphygmomanometer to measure blood pressure. The results of the Paired T-Test analysis show p value = 0.000 <α 0.05. These results indicate that there is an effect of slow deep breathing on blood pressure changes in the elderly with hypertension in Garu Hamlet, Podoroto Village, Kesamben District, Jombang Regency. Slow deep breathing stimulates the release of endorphins, thereby reducing sympathetic nervous activity and increasing parasympathetic nervous activity which causes a relaxing effect and causes a decrease in blood pressure.