Breathing Meditation to Lower Blood Pressure | 4-2-8-2 Breathing. Stress can raise blood pressure, but calming breathing exercises can help bring your body back into balance. This guided exercise follows the rhythm: Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 2 second, exhale for 8 seconds, hold for 2 seconds. Why it helps: Stress and anxiety can raise blood pressure by keeping your body in fight-or-flight mode. Slow, controlled breathing, especially with a longer exhale, activates the parasympathetic nervou