RESPeRATE Blood Pressure Lowering Device
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List Price: Our Price: $290.00 You Save: $39.00 (12%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Health Care See more product details |
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Customer Reviews of RESPeRATE Blood Pressure Lowering Device
Customer Review: No Effect at all on my Blood Pressure!
Summary: 2 Stars
I am a male "senior citizen" in generally good health.
I own a home blood pressure monitor (Omron HEM 711DX) purchased from Amazon. Some months ago, I noticed that my top blood pressure number was frequently over 150, too high even for my age (the bottom number has never been an issue).
I started by reading virtually everything I could find on the web about "hypertension" (high blood pressure).
My ultimate observation was that most of the articles appeared either to be copied from other articles; or were essentially paid-for endorsements for medication, devices or processes (meditation/hypnosis DVDS and books); or might be good for general health but not necessarily related to blood pressure (DASH diet). Most had very little if any statistical basis behind their recommendations. Indeed, I was amazed at how little solid information there seemed to be about bringing down blood pressure levels and how much was apparently recycled or based on trial and error.
After a physical exam and consultation, my doctor suggested a major reduction in my salt intake (goodbye to - Chinese takeout; fast-food `burgers and fries; "salty" snacks; bacon; lox; all restaurant soups; etc). With this diet change plus the few pounds it took off, my top number dropped to the 135-140 range most of the time and it stuck there.
I had read about Resperate on the web. Although some reviewers said it was "too expensive" compared to co-payments for medication, my sense was that virtually anything that could lower my blood pressure but do no real harm was preferable to medication with its doctor's visits and potential side effects. When one of the major warehouse stores with a liberal return policy had a mail-order Resperate sale, I decided to buy one.
I had hoped Resperate would take perhaps 10 points off the top blood pressure number; for me, that would have been a spectacular result.
However, this did not happen. As best I can determine, Resperate did absolutely nothing at all either to or for my blood pressure!
I used Resperate every day for a month. I usually had 13 or 14 minutes in the "under 10 breaths per minute" zone with a final rate between 4.8 and 5.5. The other numbers were also good. Last week, I spoke with the company who confirmed that I was doing everything according to instructions.
My conclusions are:
-Slow, deep breathing for 10 to 15 minutes per day may have its own benefits, but the link between that activity and blood pressure is tenuous at best. I know it is not possible to keep all other variables constant, but I took my blood pressure enough times during the day to see that there was no significant pattern change while using Resperate, even in the last week.
-While some reviewers said that the "relaxation" alone from using Resperate may have lowered their blood pressure, I personally found that having to breathe in and out on queue was stressful, not relaxing. Even after a month, I didn't like using it. For me, it was not a form of meditation.
The Resperate machine seems to be a well made and well thought out device; mechanically, it is fine; the documentation is good; there is customer support - all of which combined to move it up from the lowest or 1* rating.
The 2* rating above reflects performance of the product; it didn't do what it was supposed to do - lower my blood pressure.
Since, as noted, I bought the Resperate from a warehouse store with a liberal return policy, it is going back for a refund.
Customer Review: It Actually Worked for me
Summary: 5 Stars
It actually worked, after the first week I'm regularly reading around 120/80. I've struggled with high blood pressure for a few years now. When I first realized I had high blood pressure there was no obvious explanation. I was already in fantastic shape cardio and weight wise so the easiest way to improvement in BP was already closed. I was running around 150/100 before I started a vitamin regimen which reduced it to just below 140/90 (With occasional spikes). I tried meditation, an extreme low sodium diet, running 40+ miles a week, sleep regulation ect.. and nothing could get me much below that 140/90 average. I was at wits end on how to reduce it much more without prescription medication which I want to avoid when I tried RESPeRATE. I'd seen it online several times in my research on how to lower my own BP but was put off by the price and the simplicity of the device. My own efforts at breathing control had not amounted to much. Finally I gave in and ordered it. Surprise, IT WORKS! I measure my BP regularly as well as immediately before and after use and have noticed some substantial changes almost overnight. My average BP throughout the day has dropped substantially and I even recorded a personal best of 117/73 in the middle of the day! Other reviewers have complained that it raises BP. I have seen this as well once my daily average BP bottomed out at 120/80 but it's only temporary immediately after use. Your daily average BP is much lower with regular use of this product. Someone else also mentioned that they sleep better after using it. I would have to agree at least initially. During the first week of use I would be exhausted after using it and sleep like a rock for some reason but that effect has also worn off. Of the 4 guiding tones for breathing I found the default guiding tone highly annoying but it's actually the most effective. I end up falling asleep or losing the pace as my thoughts wander with the more relaxing tones. I think the annoyance of the default tone causes me to pay attention to my breathing more and focus on RESPeRATE. I would highly recommend this product, the setup and use is simple a calm voice explains what you need to do through the headset and you breath, pretty simple. I still dont know why this thing is as expensive as it is but it works so I wont complain too loudly. If you've tried everything else and it didnt work than try this.Customer Review: No one talks about this -- This Unit is NOT A VALUE
Summary: 2 Stars
There are a lot of good reviews here on Resperate. A number of them sound so good they could have been "placed" here by the manufacturer.
Look, I have no doubt that Resperate will make a reduction happen for many people who use it, because the idea is sound. It's based on good science-that meditation reduces blood pressure readings.
But let's take a look at what you get here. This is basically a $30 Chinese CD player being sold with a built in "tune" for $300. It is NOT a quality product. I used it for two months, got a small reduction in my blood pressure readings. But the first unit I received was defective within a week, and the second one looked like it was going to have the same problems. Physically, it is not made well. It's chintzy. And when I spend $300 for an electronic device, MAN that thing had better be cool, and really made well. In this case, the little plastic piece that has the digital readout on it came off, the earphone jack had to be held in only a certain way in order to work, and the cheazy little monitor thing that goes around your chest is actually hard-wired right into the case, which is crazy because it is prone to shorting out. So, in short, you'd have to be really nutty to keep this thing after the 30 day evaluation because its "self-destruct" mode starts kicking in about then. The company has a great $100 product here, but they put an extra $200 into the retail price so that they could promote the heck out of it. Even the headphones that come with it are so cheaply made that they fall apart faster than the units that they give away in airline seats.
What you get with Resperate is something that you could have for free just by sitting in a chair and slowing down your breathing. What you DON'T get is quality. This is a device equivalent to what you'd get for $25 or $30 in a WalMart if you were buying some kind of electronic gadget. Cheazy and without any similarity to something worth $300. And for those who believe that the blood pressure result is what you are paying for, and not the unit itself, you can get EXACTLY the same results by spending $20 on a meditation/breathing CD and listening to it an hour or two a week.
Customer Review: Works if you work at it...
Summary: 4 Stars
I recently reviewed the medical literature and there are several proven therapies (other than prescription medications) for treatment of hypertension. This machine is one of those therapies.
The most effective therapy for lowering blood pressure without medication is walking (working up to 15 to 20 miles a week...less than 10 miles a week has little effect). For more on the new minimum recommendations about walking, visit the new government sponsored food pyramid and carefull read the recommendations about exercise...the new guidelines differ greatly from the old "20 or 30 minutes, 2 or 3 times a week (a recipe for obesity and hypertension): http://www.mypyramid.gov.
In addition to walking, proven therapies (greatly reduced in effectiveness compared with walking) include a vegetarian diet as well as several supplements (garlic and CoQ-10 are two of several) that also may benefit.
Working in synergy, a dramatic and effective lowering of blood pressure can be obtained. Use this machine in conjunction with a daily walk (with your doctor's permission) of 3 miles (7 days a week) and with a diet as recommended in "The Abs Diet" and it would be difficult to keep from lowering your blood pressure.
I do have patients who were helped; those who were not helped made no other real changes. Use this machine without any other changes in lifestyle, and I doubt that you will see a worthwile result.
The device is very relaxing to use. I recommend that you walk during the day and use this device as an afternoon refreshment for energy or before bedtime to improve sleep (as well as help for blood pressure). But, don't waste your money if you're not willing to walk at least 15 miles a week.
--Charles Runels, MD
Author of "Anytime...for as Long as You Want: Strength, Genius, Libido, and Erection by Integrative Sex Transmutation (A 15-Day Course for Men to Improve Life and Sex).
Customer Review: Great product to reduce stress as well: UPDATED
Summary: 5 Stars
Below is my original post from 2007. I have been using Resperate every day since then (I use it several times per day). My BP now consistently averages 110/60 and I have had no dangerous spikes in BP at all. I am still on low dose BP meds, but have excellent BP control, in part due to Resperate. Additionally it has helped in pain management and in relaxation and stress reduction. Great product, worth the money, but make a back up recording. You do not want to go without your treatment plan while awaiting repairs or a new unit.
+++++
I have been using Resperate for 2 weeks and when I use it my BP falls anywhere from 20-40 points. I use it 2-3 times each day faithfully. That is key to good success with Resperate. You must use it every day for best effects.
It also is great for reducing stress. I feel much better physically after using it.
Ask your MD if it is for you. You should use it as part of an overall program to reduce BP: lifestyle modification, diet, exercise, stopping smoking, etc... It should not be the only thing you use.
**** Here is a helpful hint. Make a recording of one of your sessions. That way if the machine breaks you can still do the treatments. You will need a few things to get a good recording. A line in connection to take from headphones out (on Resperate) to input on computer. You will also need a headphones line splitter (so you can hear the tones on one line while the other goes into the computer, and then recording software. I use audacity which is a free download [..]
The cables cost about 20 bucks, but it is worth it to have a back up copy of the recordings. Then when all is connected, just sit back and do a session of Resperate and record it on your computer. Then burn a cd and you have a copy should anything happen to your resperate unit.
Hope this helps!
For me it has been well worth the cost.