Any experiences with the Resperate or Zona devices?

[Roger Keeling]

I have been considering purchasing a Resperate, a biofeedback device that costs about $300 and -- according to some fairly impressive clinical studies -- is effective in significantly reducing BP in something like 70-75% of those who try it (or more). Well-controlled studies appear to have been done, the comnpany seems quite reputable, etc. But I sure would like to hear independently from some folks who've successfully (or unsuccessfully) tried this device before spending the money.

Just yesterday I learned of a competing device, also around $300, called the Zona Plus. Works on a completely different principle, ALSO seems well tested with an interesting history (it emerged from jet fighter technology). It frankly sounds a bit easier to use, and they claim it is effective in over 90% of patients, and with a better result to boot. But it is available ONLY from the manufacturer -- Google produces almost no hits on it. The scientific papers they cite seem, mostly, generic rather than specifically about the Zona Plus itself. Harvard Health Newsletter did do a full-page spread on it. Anyone with experience with this device?

[charjsohmom]

Hi Roger

Sorry I have no experiences with these devices, but would like to know more about this.  My husband has been on a few meds for his High Blood Pressure, and has suffered terrible side effects (from the statins)  He is on a different med now, but I don't like him taking them, I really don't believe they are good for him.  How do these devices work.  I am open to other methods, as I personally have many doubts about pharmaceuticals.  I know they help many people, but it is just my personal belief that sometimes they do more harm than good.

All the best to you.


Michelle

[mariop]

The PDF files referenced by the Zona website do not refer to Zona itself but to IHG.  Before you plunk down that amount of money Roger I would read all those articles.  It appears that one could construct a self made training exercise from the info in the articles.

[Roger Keeling]

Thanks for posting ... I was wondering if anyone was even reading what I wrote!

The Resperate has a higher profile. It's been on the market for a number of years, with long-term clinical trials in some very reputable institutions. You can buy it from a number of different (internet) retailers or from the manufacturer directly. It's probably a slightly better deal from the retailers, e.g., www.lifematters.com or DH Medical.com.

The Resperate is a biofeedback device which is supposed to be used 3-5 times each week, for about 15-20 minutes per sitting. It is possible to do what the Resperate does without any kind of device, but most people can't or won't, hence the machine to help. A band is placed around your chest to measure your breathing rate. Sound is fed through headphones. You follow the chimes as they guide you to a slower breathing rate with longer exhales. It's now been pretty well established that for a substantial majority of people with hypertension, BP levels will drop for awhile during and after doing this ... and, if you continue doing it 3-5 times a week, after a month or two your BP level will be lower all the time. It does not work for everyone, but I've seen figures (from somewhere) that upwards of 70-75% of users report benefits that make the machine worthwhile. If you ever stop using the device, your BP will gradually go back up. The average drop in BP is claimed to be somewhere in the 12/8 range, if my memory is correct.

The Zona Plus (previously sold as the CardioGrip) works on an entirely different principle, and it is not yet clear to me exactly HOW it does what it does. The idea came out of research conducted in the 1960s and '70s on jet fighter design and operation. I believe it was the F-15 jets that had a problem with pilots passing out during tight maneuvers because of the blood being driven out of the brain by high G forces. It was discovered that by clenching certain muscles (I've always heard it was the butt, but apparently it was also the hands), a pilot could boost BP for a second enough to keep from passing out. The solution was a control stick that included some sort of measurement device to help guide the pilot, to let him know how tightly he was gripping the instrument.

One of the scientists noticed that after pilots had used this for awhile, those who'd previously had slightly elevated BP levels no longer did. Long story short, many years of research led to this device and its predecessors. To use it, you grip the thing, squeeze for 1 minute as hard as you can, rest for one minute, then squeeze at 30% or somesuch of your capacity. Then you switch hands. I think you do this several times. As with the Resperate, so here: you are supposed to do this 3-5 times a week in 15 minute sessions.

Zona Plus claims that the machine is beneficial to over 95% of those who use it for 4-6 weeks, and that average BP drops are in the range of 20-22/8-10.

As meriop points out, the literature supporting the Zona Plus is a little bit on the thin side, although the full-page Harvard Health Newsletter article gave the machine and the company some serious credibility. I don't know whether you could make your own, as meriod says, or not; I'll be reading the articles at the Zona Plus's website carefully to see. I myself have been slammed with work this week, and haven't had time to really give a lot of attention to all the literature linked to at the Zona Plus website.

[reviver]

I started with the Zona about six months ago, tired of side effects due to the 3 different antihypertensives I was taking.  Started with BP of 155/95, with drugs down to 130's over 80's, but could not get lower.  Called the company and talked to them, figured I had nothing to lose so I tried it.  My pressure is now about 115/65 and am down to 2 drugs.  I could probably come off of another drug but am taking it very slowly.  It is easy to do and I feel it has worked just as the literature said it would, an extra 15 systolic and at least 10 diastolic.

[sleepylady]

I just started with zona plus a week ago. Altho it is easy to do, I am finding that it takes tremendous effort to squeeze as it indicates. I feel like I am about to explode I have to squeeze so hard to keep it in the "zone". Am scared that I may be doing damage to myself rather than helping lower BP--feel like I could have a stroke! Did you encounter similar issues when you first started? I called the company and they said to squeeze at the beginning only once as hard as I can and that maybe I keep squeezing harder so it makes the rest of the therapy harder, but that doesn't seem to help. I don't feel like I can keep this up, because my hands are so tired towards the end I can hardly go on. Appreciate your input.

[bugs53]

Hi, This is all interesting. I have been using the Resperate for about a year now, on and off. When I do use it every day for about 20 minutes, it does seem to have a lowering effect. Maybe about an average of 15/10. What is good about it, it is teaching me to take a break during the day, meditate and breath slower, which is really what it is all about. Very relaxing to use. So I would recommend it. But I could see that some people would be better at the "meditation" than others. My husband was recently diagnosed with an ascending aorta dialitation, which has us nervous, so he is starting to use the Resperate, but in his case, after reading these posts, maybe he would benefit more from the Zone Plus. So I will look into that. I bet, since my hands are very small, I would not be at all comfortable either with the gripping. Keep the comments coming. I figure it is good to avoid drugs while we still can, but will take them when we have to.
Bugs

[zonatryer]

I started Zona two days ago and find the exercise more difficult than touted in the ads.  My hands get tired and I feel all the blood rushing to my face.  I find I don't look forward to the exercise and am glad when it's over.  I don't know if I'm doing something wrong, or if my hands are just weak and will get better with time.  I don't want to give up yet.

[zonatryer]

I meant to mention in my above post that my hands are very small, and I have a feeling that is why the Zona feels so difficult to do.  I have skinny fingers and just an overall small hand.  I want to try it with gloves tomorrow.  I've been doing it three days now (I had to skip a day because I felt I just couldn't muster the strength after two days to do it a third day in a row).  My doctor suggests five days a week rather than the three days a week suggested in the literature.  I took my blood pressure today two hours after the exercise and notice that it's down some.  Before using the Zona at all my reading was consistently 139/90 and today it was 125/82 so maybe something's working already.  

I still do not look forward to the sessions, though.  It hurts and I don't have arthritis in my hands, just small small hands.  

[sleepylady]

I certainly am glad to hear from you! I was thinking I was the only one having a problem using it! The literature says its "relaxing" therapy "without excessive strain or fatigue". I  would like to know for whom! I have been doing it now for almost 3 weeks and it is still  difficult for me! I thought my hands would be stronger and it would be easier by now. Not much! Like you, I do not look forward to the sessions at all, but am persevering to see if it works--I do it 6 days a week. Don't really see much affect from it yet in my BP, either. My hands are not small and are not arthritic either, but have never been very strong and my fingers are thin.

Anyway, keep me posted and I will keep you posted and we will see how this goes! Hopefully, someone else will also chime in. Good luck!

[zonatryer]

Today I tried lightweight gloves, and maybe it was a little better, but not much, and I kept getting the prompt in the window telling me to squeeze harder.  I couldn't do it harder toward the last 30 seconds, and felt like giving up, but didn't even though I wasn't in the "hold" zone at all on my left hand.  However, my reading came out 95!  That surprised me.  

It  was discouraging to read you've been on it three weeks and still find it no easier.  I wish someone from the company could provide some insights as to why it's not as easy as their brochure and their website indicates.

Thanks for cheering me on.   I'll keep your posted, too.    

[Jakkals]

I've been using a Zona-Plus for six weeks. Not difficult, I find, just boring. My BP jumps around so much it's hard to tell how well it's working   in the last few days I've had readings as high as 168/80 and as low as 125/64 (all readings  taken after sitting quietly for at least 10 mins).

Jakkals

[baronvonsteve]

I have been using the Zona Plus for a year. My BP was 155/99 with meds; now 125/80 with less meds. It take about 6 weeks to see an improvment. You need to be religious about using it and learning the preceedure. It will take 12 minutes a day for at least 5 days per week. It is more work than popping a pill but yeilds better results and costs less in the long run. It can even be shared between people as it calibrates itself at the beginning of each use.

[rrochon]

At 20 cents a day for my lisinopril it will take me almost 5 years to pay for the Zona Plus. I paid $10 for some hand grip exercizers. I will see if they help before I invest $350. Maybe I am not doing it right, tho. Tell me if I am wrong. Squeeze as hard as possible with each hand for 10 to 20 seconds, then hold with each hand for 2 minutes at about 30% of strength, resting for 1 minute between sessions. Then do it again with each hand for 2 minutes, at about 30% strength. Is that basically it?

The problem is estimating 30%, but maybe that is not so important.

[Hypert809]

Although my b/p is 178/100, I am not going to write about that. I saw that your Dr recommended increasing the days you use it. I think he is wrong. When you do exercises like that, you destroy tissue. Your body must rest to rebuild that tissue. Weightlifters do not lift every day. Or if they do they work different parts of the body. Using the Zona you do isometric exercices which strengthen muscle. It is a slow process but the result will come, all of a sudden. However, if it is too big you should approach the manufacturer that there are people with small hands. Not necessarily women only. My wife has much bigger hands than I have.

[globalsuzy]

I wantd to add my comment re: Resperate.
I purchased it last September. It did not arrive before my trip to Puerto Vallarta. When I returned to CA 3 weeks later I tried to reach the company several times. I kept trying to get a response and sent an email. I wanted to get the 30 days extended so I could see if it worked. Listening to mellow music seems to help just about the same. Since Resperate was expensive I wanted to return it. I sent an email since I wasn't receiving any response to my phone calls.I sent this email to them:Hi I need your help. I did not receive my RESPeRATE before going out of the country in Sept. I returned to California on October 8th. I have been using the Resperate but have not noticed any change in Blood