Can You Breathe Your Way To Better Health?

University of Northern Colorado

Status: Invitation-only

Conditions: Cancer; Chronic Stress; Autonomic Dysfunction

Treatments: Behavioral: Cyclic Hyperventilation with Retention; Behavioral: Hight intensity interval training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06829836

2404058931

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this clinical trial is to explore the effects of either a 2-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or breath training intervention on measures of overall health, circulating biomarkers of stress, and immune function.

Specific aims include: - Does a 2-week HIIT or breath training intervention improve measurements of overall health, including heart rate variability, physical activity, sleep quality, and severity of depression, anxiety, and stress? -Does a 2-week HIIT or breath training intervention improve circulating concentrations of stress-related biomarkers? Does a 2-week HIIT or breath training intervention improve immune function? Researchers will compare HIIT and breath training to see if equivalent immune improvements are observed.

Participants will: -Undergo 2 weeks of HIIT or breath training interventions at a frequency of 3 times per week for 30 minutes or 5 times per week for 5 minutes if placed into an intervention group. -Undergo testing measures at the two pre- and post-intervention time points, if placed in the intervention groups or the healthy control group.

Enrollment: 36 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 50 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age, 18-50 years
• Sex, Male and Female
• Informed Consent, The capability and willingness to give written informed consent to understand the exclusion criteria and to accept the randomized group assignment is required.
• PAR-Q+, The capability and willingness to complete the physical activity readiness questionnaire, with no medical clearance needed.
• Physical Activity: Participants must refrain from regular HIIT and structured breathing practices for a month before participation
• Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale, Subcategory Scoring (DASS-21) Participants must score in the mild or greater category for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress. Depression ≥ 10, Anxiety ≥ 8, and Stress ≥ 14.

Exclusion criteria

• Age: Individuals under 18 years and over 50 years
• Significant Respiratory Conditions, including but not limited to asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
• Significant Cardiovascular Disease: Participants with a known cardiovascular condition such as a previous myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, stroke, or transient ischemic attack, cardiomyopathy, serious arrhythmia, peripheral vascular disease, untreated atherosclerosis, or hypertension.
• Significant Musculoskeletal Disease, including but not limited to osteopenia, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and sarcopenia
• Cognitive and Mental Health, including but not limited to untreated anxiety, untreated depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and thoughts of suicide.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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36 participants in 3 patient groups

CON, control

No Intervention group

Description:

The control group will undergo the same testing procedures outlined above, but they will be asked to maintain their current level of activity and normal daily habits for the duration of the intervention.

HIG, High intensity group

Active Comparator group

Description:

During the exercise session, HR will be measured via a Polar heart rate strap (Kempele, Finland). The training sessions will consist of six 90-second high-intensity cycling (HIC) sprints performed on a cycle ergometer (Monark Ergomedic 895E, Monark, Varberg, Sweden) at 80-90% VO2max, followed by 180 seconds of low-intensity cycling (LIC) at 50-60% of VO2max. During both HIC and LIC intensities, participants will be asked rate of perceived exertion, which will be compared to the participants' heart rate throughout the exercise sessions. This supervised training protocol will require 9 minutes of HIC at 80-90% VO2max and 18 minutes of LIC at 50-60% VO2max. The cycling session will begin with a brief warm-up and end with a cool-down down totaling the entire supervised exercise session for 30 minutes. Training sessions will be performed 48 hours after the previous training session for a total of 3 times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Hight intensity interval training

CHG, Cyclic hyperventilation group

Active Comparator group

Description:

The breathing intervention will consist of a daily breathing practice lasting 5 to 10 minutes for 5 days per week. Breathing practice is a form of cyclic hyperventilation consisting of 30 breath (inhalation and exhalation) repetitions followed by an exhaled breath retention for 15 seconds during the first week and up to 30 seconds during the second week. A total of 3 rounds will be performed by the participants. Participants will be instructed to perform breathing repetitions in a controlled and consistent manner while either seated or lying down. Participants will receive guided instruction via a video on breath cycle queues, informing the participants when to inhale, exhale, and when to retain their breath while being supervised by the research team via Zoom call. Upon completion of the breath training sessions, the research team will conduct a guided cooldown and check in with all participants to ensure they are feeling no adverse side effects from the breathing exercise.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cyclic Hyperventilation with Retention