Sorry but this will be quite a long post.

I have been using Resp@rate for about 5 weeks now. It's difficult to know if it has been the cause of my lower BP as it coincides with being put on medication (165/95 much of this white coat syndrome at the hospital) and also a number of other lifestyle changes such as more exercise, lower salt, more potassium etc. However I have now persuaded my doctor that I want to see if I can manage and reduce my BP by more natural processes and have come off the medication (ACE inhibitor 5mg). So far BP seems slightly lower than before after 4 days. (132/81 today).

My concern after reading some of the posts in the forum is that I am not relaxed enough when using Resp@rate. At first I used the default setting of 15 min which took me down to around 4.8 bpm. This seemed pretty effortless, but I noticed that my pulse rate was higher after the session than before.

I changed to 10 minutes, although I still get down to around 5.5 bpm on some days and have been lower. On other days I ignore the tones until the bpm goes back up to the 6-8 range. However whatever I do my pulse rate is slightly higher at the end of the session than before. Maybe I'm just worrying too much about it!

I contacted the UK support desk and they went through my stats with me and said I must be doing it correctly as all the stats were good. I am not, however sure that that good stats necessarily means effortless breathing.

My question is then about pulse rate. I note that some users report much lower pulse rates after the session, but I don't seem to achieve this. (resting PR is about 60 first thing in the morning, post resparate today it was 70, starting at 66 it quickly dropped back to 63 after finishing).

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated. I really want this to work if at all possible!

Before I begin, I just want to make sure that you understand that the breathing exercise is a shorter inhalation followed immediatley by a prolonged exhalation. After speaking with a gentleman who has been using his RESPeRATE for several weeks, it turns out he didn't realize that! He would begin exhaling before the tone prompted him to do so. He said all his sessions have been comfortable & effortless, even when he got down to below 5 bpm. Turns out, it wasn't as effortless as he had thought!
The point of this story is to bring to the realization that the RESPeRATE uses a unique breathing pattern which should be followed without effort or thought.
If you find that you are overthinking or worrying too much (and let me tell you that you are NOT alone) then try using it in the evening when your body in naturally more relaxed. I find that when people use it in the morning or day, they tend to drift off & think about that they need to get done that day or other issues. I think that if you stick to those 10 minutes sessions, but use it an hour or sooner before you go to bed that you may feel a difference.
My final thought is that it doesn't matter how great your stats are if you are not relaxed.
Breathe Easy!
Marguerite (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

Thanks for pointing out the breathing patter, I think I am aware of this anhd in fact mostly use Resparate in the evening, although this dopesn't seem to affect the pulse rate issue.

I am interested to know a bit more about the inhalation part, I think I am in synch and the stats would show that, however I am wondering if it should be a light inhale or a larger one to provide enough breath to prolong the exhale part. Normally I breath fairly normally when inhaling, but have wondered if it should be a deeper inhale?

I think it is more likely that I am trying too hard and making too much effort, although I don't know how to remedy that at the moment. Perhaps time will improve it and I should forget about the pulse issue as even thinking about it may make it go up... like blood pressure itself.

WHen REsparate is working should I see a detectable reduction just after using it or as the UK support call uggested after an hour? COmments in this forum suggest an immediate reducation.

Thanks again

Martin (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Martin2,
You want to fill your lungs with air when you inhale, however, you should not take those "deep breaths". When you take in those "deep breaths" you are actually putting an effort, as this is not a natural way of breathing. The process should be gradual. You should gradually inhale enough air and then gradually exhale. This should be a continous effortless progress throughout the duration of your session.
The vast majority of people begin to see a sustained reduction in their blood pressure around the 3rd - 4th week of regular use. This is what you are looking for, that all day reduction.
Breathe Easy!
Marguerite