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Meditation and Cardiovascular Risk Reduction: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.
- Source :
-
Journal of the American Heart Association [J Am Heart Assoc] 2017 Sep 28; Vol. 6 (10). Date of Electronic Publication: 2017 Sep 28. - Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- Despite numerous advances in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Novel and inexpensive interventions that can contribute to the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease are of interest. Numerous studies have reported on the benefits of meditation. Meditation instruction and practice is widely accessible and inexpensive and may thus be a potential attractive cost-effective adjunct to more traditional medical therapies. Accordingly, this American Heart Association scientific statement systematically reviewed the 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 and on cardiovascular risk. 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, although the overall quality and, in some cases, quantity of study data are modest. Given the low costs and low risks of this intervention, meditation may be considered as an adjunct to guideline-directed cardiovascular risk reduction by those interested in this lifestyle modification, with the understanding that the benefits of such intervention remain to be better established. Further research on meditation and cardiovascular risk is warranted. Such studies, to the degree possible, should utilize randomized study design, be adequately powered to meet the primary study outcome, strive to achieve low drop-out rates, include long-term follow-up, and be performed by those without inherent bias in outcome.<br /> (© 2017 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley.)
- Subjects :
- American Heart Association
Blood Pressure
Cardiovascular Diseases epidemiology
Cardiovascular Diseases physiopathology
Cardiovascular Diseases psychology
Endothelium, Vascular physiopathology
Humans
Insulin Resistance
Primary Prevention standards
Risk Factors
Risk Reduction Behavior
Secondary Prevention standards
Smoking adverse effects
Smoking epidemiology
Smoking psychology
Smoking Cessation
Treatment Outcome
United States
Cardiovascular Diseases prevention & control
Meditation
Primary Prevention methods
Secondary Prevention methods
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2047-9980
- Volume :
- 6
- Issue :
- 10
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of the American Heart Association
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 28963100
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.117.002218