Effects of Yoga on Sodium-induced Pressor Responses in African American Adults

Exclusion Criteria

• •pregnancy or within 60 days postpartum
• •having taken blood pressure (including diuretics beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and calcium channel blockers) or statin medications within the past 3 months (statins have been demonstrated to reduce oxidative stress which could impact flow-mediated dilation);
• •infection (viral or other) within the past 4 weeks;
• •having adrenal or endocrine tumors (these could impact BP);
• •renal disease defined as a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of less than 60 (creatinine will be tested at initial screening and GFR will be calculated);
• •prior myocardial infarction; vii) known coronary heart disease;
• •personal history of stroke;
• •heart failure;
• •cardiac arrhythmias;
• •chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;
• •recent chest pain or dyspnea;
• •orthopedic limitations that preclude the execution of yoga postures;
• •current insulin dependence;
• •currently taking steroid medications;
• •currently undergoing chemotherapy or radiation;
• •having practiced yoga or yogic breathing techniques at least once weekly consistently within the past 3 months;
• •heat intolerance or electrolyte imbalances (hypo- or hyper-natremia or hypo- or hyper-kalemia).