A new study found that resonant breathing exercises, aided by a mobile phone app, can significantly alleviate Long Covid symptoms. The exercises, focusing on heart rate variability, led to improvements in symptoms, sleep, and physical functioning, suggesting a simple and effective treatment option for Long Covid sufferers.
Participants used a free heart rate variability app on their mobile phones, which provided breathing guides that allowed them to track the effects of the technique. They monitored the effects using a chest strap heart rate monitor while completing the breathing exercises. Data from this, combined with heart rate data from a smartwatch worn for the duration of the study, was used to analyze their progress.
“Developing new treatments to help these patients is vitally important. Our research suggests that resonant breathing is an easy and effective technique that can significantly improve symptoms. It requires little medical intervention, and the technology is affordable. The feedback we received from patients was overwhelmingly positive.”The participants aimed to increase their heart rate variability on the phone app while performing the breathing exercise.
There was also a 10-point improvement in EQ-5D-5L VAS and an improvement in the autonomic symptoms score. The smartwatch data showed improvements in patients’ overall heart rate variability recorded throughout the day.