The Effect of Breathing and Relaxation Exercises on Self-Care, Dyspnea, and Fatigue in Heart Failure: A Randomized Controlled Study

Dyspnea, fatigue, and self-care are common occurrences of heart failure. This study evaluated the effects of yoga breathing and progressive muscle relaxation exercises on dyspnea, fatigue, and self-care in heart failure. The study conducted between April 2023 and March 2024 randomized 66 heart failure patients into 3 groups (yoga breathing exercise, progressive muscle relaxation exercise, and control). The intervention groups engaged in specific exercises tailored to their assigned regimen for 10 minutes twice daily over a 2-week period, while the control group maintained their pharmacological treatment. At the end of the intervention (second week) yoga breathing exercise notably ameliorated fatigue, dyspnea, and self-care (P <.001), changes in saturation, heart rate, and respiratory rate favoring the intervention groups (P <.05). Yoga breathing exercises enhance self-care, alleviate fatigue, and dyspnea in heart failure. Additionally, yoga breathing and progressive muscle relaxation exercises provide benefits in regulating saturation, heart rate, and respiratory rate in heart failure. © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.