The hectic pace of our daily lives can lead to stress, physical problems, and emotional issues. When people are running, they often forget to sleep, eat, and exercise. And this takes a toll on their health. Does meditation help improve heart health and relieve anxiety? Find out what a recent study revealed.
The Plight of Cardiovascular Disease
One in four deaths in the United States is due to cardiovascular disease. And the CDC reports heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death for men and women. Many people are trying to lead heart-healthy lives. Reducing fat, salt, and sugar in your diet can help. Minimize stress is another way to ward of heart problems. And it is important to do cardiovascular exercise at least a half hour each day. But in a world filled with temptation and stressors, research shows meditation can help reduce the risks associated with heart disease.
Benefits of Meditation
An increasing number of people are discovering the benefits of mindfulness meditation. For a few minutes, a person has an opportunity to focus solely on his or her thoughts. Often the din at home and the workplace leaves little room for reflection. Meditating is a wonderful way to get focused and let go of the tension that builds from daily life. And studies also show meditation can improve your health, perspective, and quality of life.
Meditation for Heart Health and Relief of Anxiety
If you could improve your life in just one hour, would you do it? A recent study from Michigan Technological University found just an hour of mindful meditation can reduce feelings of anxiety. It also reduces some heart health risks. After a single session, adults with mild to moderate anxiety felt relief. Additionally, participants had lower heart rates and reduced aortic pulsatile load.
Continued Benefits
After one session, the participants continued to feel relief from anxiety and have lowered heart rates a week later. The research showed meditation can have a lasting impact on our well-being. And regular meditation can help people keep these health issues under control. While meditation is not a substitute for medical diagnosis and treatment, it can enhance a person’s current health care plan to maximize the positive results.
Long-Term Meditation Matters
Other studies have already revealed the benefits of long-term meditation. People who add this time into their schedules will reduce their anxiety and lower their heart rates. And this can mean a reduced risk of disorders related to anxiety, stress, and poor heart health. Some people realize these benefits with as little as ten minutes of meditation each day. When people consider the time they spend checking social media or fixing their hair, ten minutes is a short time to set aside for good health each day.
Future Studies to Be Done
The Michigan study, Mindfulness Meditation Reduces Aortic Pulsatile Load and Anxiety in Mild to Moderately Anxious Adults, will be presented by research at the Experimental Biology Meeting. And a half million dollars has already been awarded by the National Institutes of Health to continue this research. With these resources dedicated to research about meditation, people will learn more about its overall benefits. And it could become part of future treatments for these common disorders.
Meditation only takes a few minutes each day and can offer a myriad of benefits. Discover how meditation can lower your blood pressure, improve your focus, and wipe away the stress from a long day. Our resources put the possibilities of mindfulness meditation right at your fingertips.
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