Meditation And Heart Disease:
Scientific Evidence And Effects

There's a firm connection between stress and heart disease. Meditation lowers stress. Mindfulness meditation is reported to lower symptoms of depression, anxiety, and general distress by respectively 43%, 37%, 35%, and significantly reduce blood pressure (Rosenzweig et al, 2004).

There are several other connections between meditation and heart disease. Let's review some of them...

Heart disease is estimated to be the largest cause of death and disability worldwide. Women account for nearly 50% of annual deaths related to heart disease. Within 1 year of a heart attack 43% of women die, compared to 24% of men.

Researchers believe that women are more likely to feel distress than men, and high circulation of stress hormones is linked to heart disease.

Some of the most debilitating symptoms in patients with chronic heart failure are related to the respiratory system, and improving the breathing pattern has potential favorable effects on patients with heart disease.

A study examining the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction found a significant improvement in breathing efficiency and frequency (Robert-McComb et al, 2004). Lowered resting level of the stress hormone cortisol was also observed.

Hypertension is a strong risk factor for heart attacks and cardiovascular disease.

An 8-month study involving 111 tens on the verge of becoming hypertensive adults, found that Transcendental meditation (mantra-based meditation) helps blood vessels relax. Two 15-minute meditation sessions led to an average 21% increase in the ability of the teens' blood vessels to dilate.

In contrast, the teens who did not meditate experienced a 4% decrease in blood vessel dilation over the 8-month study.

Lead investigator, Dr. Vernon A. Barnes, stated: "We know that this type of change is achievable with lipid-lowering drugs, but it's remarkable that a meditation program can produce such a change. This could have important implications for inclusion of meditation programs to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases and its clinical consequences."

Meditation for hypertension, heart disease, and general physical and psychological distress... Meditation is frequently being prescribed as complementary treatment by doctors. It is estimated that more than 10 million Americans meditate today.

The benefits of meditation on heart disease as well as on mental, emotional, and physical well-being, explain why so many people currently practice - and are turning to - meditation.

References:

• Rosenzweig S, Reibel DK, Greeson JM, Edman JS, Jasser SA, McMearty KD, Goldstein BJ: Mindfulness-based stress reduction is associated with improved glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A pilot study. Altern Ther Health Med. 2007;13(5):36-38.
• Robert-McComb J, Tacon A, Randolph P, Caldera Y: A pilot study to examine the effects of a mindfulness-based stress-reduction and relaxation program on levels of stress hormones, physical functioning, and submaximal exercise responses. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2004;10(5):819-27.