Science behind moonbird

The science behind moonbird

Stress pumps up your heart rate, blood pressure and adrenaline levels. In fact, it’s your sympathetic nervous system preparing your whole body for action, a ‘fight or flight’ response to protect you against possible predators and threats.

This stress could be your high-maintenance job, a complicated relationship, financial troubles, social pressure. A little of this kind of stress is fine. But a lot of it all the time ends in pain, anxiety, trouble sleeping and your focus flying out the window.

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“Slow breathing impacts and reduces your stress levels.”

dr. Steven Laureys

Prof. Neurology

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Emotional benefits

Slower breathing, less stress

Researchers found that just 10 minutes of slow breathing makes you 15% more relaxed. No wonder the NHS and Harvard Medical School advise breathing exercises as an effective tool for stress relief.

References

[1] Prinsloo GE, et al. The effect of short duration heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback on cognitive performance during laboratory induced cognitive stress. Appl Cogn Psychol. 2011.

[2] Goldstein MR, et al.. Improvements in well-being and cardiac metrics of stress following a yogic breathing workshop: Randomized controlled trial with active comparison. J Am Coll Health J ACH. 2020.

[3] Perciavalle V, et al. The role of deep breathing on stress. Neurol Sci Off J Ital Neurol Soc Ital Soc Clin Neurophysiol. 2017.

Emotional benefits

Sleep like a baby

Slow breathing before bedtime is golden. Do it for 20 minutes and studies show you’ll fall asleep 15 minutes sooner than usual and will wake up only half as many times.

References

[1] Tsai HJ, et al. Efficacy of paced breathing for insomnia: enhances vagal activity and improves sleep quality. Psychophysiology. 2015.

[2] de Zambotti M,, et al. Reducing bedtime physiological arousal levels using immersive audio-visual respiratory bio-feedback: a pilot study in women with insomnia symptoms. J Behav Med. 2019.

[3] Chien H-C, et al. Breathing exercise combined with cognitive behavioural intervention improves sleep quality and heart rate variability in major depression. J Clin Nurs. 2015.

Emotional benefits

Curb your anxiety

Scientists report that practicing breathing exercises 3 times a day for 3 days, will help your anxiety go down by 20%. They consider breathing a go-to treatment for all kinds of emotional issues.

References

[1] Yu WJ, et al. Effects of abdominal breathing on state anxiety, stress, and tocolytic dosage for pregnant women in preterm labor. J Korean Acad Nurs. 2010.

[2] Novaes MM, et al. Effects of Yoga Respiratory Practice (Bhastrika pranayama) on Anxiety, Affect, and Brain Functional Connectivity and Activity: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Front Psychiatry. 2020.

[3] Chen Y-F, et al. The Effectiveness of Diaphragmatic Breathing Relaxation Training for Reducing Anxiety. Perspect Psychiatr Care. 2017.

Driven by science

Co-created with end-users

The scientific rationale behind moonbird may not be new, but we strongly believe that new technology needs to be validated and evidence-based. That’s why we partner up with clinicians, users, and healthcare and research institutions to evaluate our device. Moonbird is co-created and tested with doctors, psychologists, coaches, therapists, pharmacists, academics, and our end-users. That way we aim to provide highly personalised support while adequately addressing user needs.

Meet the moonbird team about the contents of this article