Meditation May Reduce Cardiovascular Risk

The American Heart Association scientific statement systematically reviewed data on the potential benefits of meditation on cardiovascular risk. Neurophysiological and neuroanatomical studies demonstrate that meditation can have long‐standing effects on the brain, which provide some biological plausibility for beneficial consequences on the physiological basal state, physiological responses, and on cardiovascular risk. Different forms of meditation have different psychological and neurological effects. Studies of the effects of meditation on cardiovascular risk have included those investigating physiological response to stress, smoking cessation, blood pressure reduction, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, endothelial function, inducible myocardial ischemia, and primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Overall, studies of meditation suggest a possible benefit on cardiovascular risk. Meditation may be considered as an adjunct to guideline‐directed cardiovascular risk reduction. Source: http://jaha.ahajournals.org/