Yoga, Meditation Does Away with High-Blood Pressure Medications

An intervention program that combines yoga and meditation can help manage prehypertension, often referred to as borderline high blood pressure.

 The study reported in Psychosomatic Medicine: Journal of Biobehavioral Medicine found that the mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program helped lower blood pressure in people diagnosed with prehypertension.

 

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is a program developed by Dr Jon Kabat-Zinn from the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in the US that combines mindfulness meditation with yoga.Researchers looked at 56 people, both men and women. All participants had prehypertension, a situation where blood pressure crosses the normal level, but does not reach a point where medication is required. The condition is among the major medical concerns as it can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease.The participants were divided into two groups. The first group received the MBSR program for two-and-half hours per week, while the rest took a program that included lifestyle advice and muscle relaxation activity. 

 

The program concentrated on body scan exercises, yoga and meditation.

 

At the end of the study, the researchers found that the yoga and meditation-based program helped lower systolic blood pressure in the first group -both the first high number (5mm Hg) and the second lower number (2mmHg), compared to the second group (1 mm Hg and 1 mm Hg, respectively). (MORE)

 

Source: Independent Business Times