Time-Efficient Breathing Muscle Training to Help Sleep and Blood Pressure in Midlife Women
Official title: Time-Efficient Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training for Reducing Sympathetic Activity and Improving Sleep in Midlife Women
Funded at Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11356357 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A short, easy-to-do breathing muscle program is tested to help sleep and lower nervous system activity in middle-aged women with hot flashes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $439,258 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AG101515-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11356357 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Postmenopausal women with hot flashes who are willing to perform a 6-week high-resistance inspiratory muscle training protocol.
✕Less likely to help
Women without hot flashes or those unable to participate in the breathing training or follow-up assessments may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project recruits midlife women experiencing hot flashes to try a six-week program of high-resistance inspiratory muscle training. The goal is to see if stronger breathing muscles can reduce sympathetic (fight-or-flight) activity and improve sleep quality. Researchers will monitor sleep patterns, blood pressure-related factors, and markers of neurovascular function to understand potential benefits. If successful, this approach could offer a practical, non-drug option to improve daily life and cardiovascular health for women going through menopause.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the approach works, participants may experience better sleep and lower sympathetic arousal, which could contribute to improved blood pressure control and overall well-being.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies suggest breathing training can influence autonomic function, but this specific high-resistance inspiratory muscle training for sleep and cardiovascular markers is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baker, Sarah Elizabeth — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Baker, Sarah Elizabeth
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.