Noman Sadiq, Humaira Fayyaz Khan, Arif Siddiqui.
Blowing Balloons, a Novel Way for Reducing Stress and Improving Pulmonary Function Tests.
J Islamic Int Med Coll Jan ;13(2):66-70.

Objective: To determine the effect of blowing balloons on pulmonary function tests and perceived level of stress in medical students. Study Design: Pretest-posttest quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at Department of Physiology, Islamic International st st Medical College from 1 April 2016 to 31 May 2016. Materials and Methods: Sixty students of Islamic International Medical College participated in the study after fulfilling the DASS (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale) Questionnaire Performa. Pulmonary function tests of the participants were measured according to the standard guidelines published by American Thoracic Society. This was recorded by using Power lab and the data was then analyzed by using software, Lab chart 8 pro. The participants were then subjected to a supervised blowing balloon exercise using commercially available balloons. After completion of exercise, pulmonary function tests of the participants and the DASS Questionnaire was filled again by the participants. Results:After blowing balloon exercise DASS Score of the participants was reduced from 21.87 + 2.01 to 13.41 +/- 4.29 (p < 0.001). Tidal volume was increased from 517.72 +/- 48.57 ml to 638.65 +/- 86.02ml (p < 0.001), Vital capacity was increased from 3.51 +/- 0.56 L to 4.83 +/- 0.77 L (p < 0.001) and the ratio of Forced Expiratory Volume in one second to the Forced vital capacity was improved from 89.36 +/- 4.54 % to 92.66 +/- 4.27 % (p < 0.001) after blowing balloon exercise. Conclusion: Blowing balloon exercise is an effective way of improving pulmonary function tests and alleviating stress levels in medical students.

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