A recent study has suggested that meditation on daily basis could help teens to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in teens who are most at risk.
The study included 62 black teens with high blood pressure and it was observed that teens meditating for 15 minutes twice a had lower left ventricular mass, an indicator of future cardiovascular disease, than a control group, said Dr. Vernon Barnes, a physiologist in the Medical College of Georgia and the Georgia Health Sciences University Institute of Public and Preventive Health.
Half of the participants were trained in transcendental meditation and asked to meditate for 15 minutes with a class and 15 minutes at home daily for a period of four-month while the other group was exposed to health education on how to lower blood pressure and risk for cardiovascular disease, but no meditation.
Left ventricular mass was measured with two-dimensional echocardiograms both prior to the start of research and after four months and the group that meditated showed a significant decrease.
"Increased mass of the heart muscle's left ventricle is caused by the extra workload on the heart with higher blood pressure. Some of these teens already had higher measures of left ventricular mass because of their elevated blood pressure, which they are likely to maintain into adulthood," Barnes explained.
During meditation, which Barnes likens to a period of deep rest, the activity of the sympathetic nervous system decreases significantly and the body releases less-than-normal stress hormones.
"As a result, the vasculature relaxes, blood pressure drops and the heart works less," he said.
School records also showed behavioural improvements on the teens meditating regularly.
"Transcendental meditation results in a rest for the body that is often deeper than sleep," Barnes said.
"Statistics indicate that one in every 10 black youths have high blood pressure. If practiced over time, the meditation may reduce the risk of these teens developing cardiovascular disease, in addition to other added health benefits," he added.
The details of the study were published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
-With inputs from ANI
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Comments:
Terry A
June 9, 2012 at 3:31 AM
Tejas
June 9, 2012 at 1:57 AMTranscendental meditation has been a wonderful tool, helping me manage stress and enjoy better health. I know there are many studies showing the benefits a regular TM practice has on blood pressure, diabetes, PTSD and so much more. Thank you.
This is very encouraging news for teens and others at risk of heart disease. I experience deep stress release with my Transcendental Meditation practice. I am glad to know the benefits are taking place in the body and the good results for the heart have been measured and confirmed.