Yoga & Meditation
Breath, movement and attention, and what they do for the cardiovascular system.
Yoga and meditation get studied more seriously than their reputation suggests. The American Heart Association has reviewed meditation as a possible addition to conventional treatment for cardiovascular risk.
The effects are real and modest. They sit alongside treatment rather than in place of it, and the honest framing is a useful nudge to blood pressure and a genuine one to how manageable everything feels.
What the American Heart Association found
Blood pressure
5/3 mmHg
typical blood pressure reduction found for one meditation practice in systematic review
Its place in care
An addition
the AHA frames meditation as a supplement to conventional treatment, not a replacement for it
A fair reading of the evidence
- Modest, real effects on blood pressure and stress
- An addition to treatment, never a replacement for it
- Breath and attention practices are the most studied part
- Talk to a clinician before starting if you have had a recent cardiac event
Reading on yoga & meditation
2 articles found. Showing 2.
Yoga: The Medicine You Didn’t Know You Needed
Yoga is an ancient Hindu discipline that’s centered around holding the body in different positions. While doing yoga, practitioners focus on controlling their breathing, clearing their minds, and challenging their bodies.
Read
Just Relax: Practicing Meditation to Combat Stress and Improve Your Health
Stress. Everyone deals with it in their lives, but too much of it can be very unhealthy. It can lead to heart disease, insomnia, high blood pressure, and more.
ReadKeep the conversation going.
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