“We chose to use medical yoga, which is a form of yoga involving deep breathing, light movements, meditation and relaxation. The advantage here is that the movements are easy to learn and can be performed while sitting in a chair,” said Nilsson. PAF, she added, is thought to involve between 25% and 62% of all cases of AF.
In the prospective study, 80 patients with a diagnosis of PAF were randomized to the usual treatment and yoga (n=40) or just usual treatment (n=40). Patients in the yoga group attended hour long sessions of yoga once a week over the course of three months.
Results show that after three months patients in the yoga group, showed significant decreases in systolic blood pressure (p=0.03), diastolic blood pressure (p=0.007) and heart rate (p=0.02) compared to those in the control group.
Systolic blood pressure for patients in the yoga group dropped from 137 mmHg at the start of the study to 132mmHg after three months; whereas the systolic blood pressure of patients in the control group increased from 138 mmHg at the start of the study to 141 mmHg after three months.
Diastolic blood pressure for patients in the yoga group decreased from 83 mmHg at baseline to 77 mmHg after three months; whereas diastolic blood pressure for patients in the control group rose from 84mmHg at baseline to 87mmHg after three months.
Heart rate decreased in the yoga group from 64 beats/minute at the start of the study to 60 beats per minute after three months; whereas heart rate rose in the control group from 65 beats per minute at the start of the study to 69 beats per minute after three months.
According to the “self reported” health questionnaires, patients who received yoga showed improvements in physical quality of life (p=0.01) and mental quality of life (P=0.02) at three months, compared to those in the control group. “Our study suggests doctors could do worse than prescribing yoga for all patients with hypertension and fast heart rates,” said Nilsson.
The team, she added, are now undertaking further research to see if reductions in blood pressure and heart rate result in a decreased frequency of PAF episodes."
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3 comments:
I am interested in yoga and tai-chi myself, it is amazing way to move. Also, unlike intense cardio-activities, people get better in yoga and tai-chi as time goes by. Several times I managed to stop starting migraine doing tai-chi persistently for long periods of time. It reminds me a ketosis state a little bit.
This is very interesting. I must admit yoga has not figured in my thoughts for exercise, relaxation etc but this study shows some very good results and would seem it could be very worthwhile to look at more closely.
Anne
I go to a local yoga group held at my community hall and find it beneficial to my posture and well being, I also like the others I meet there and we have a good chat and laugh, perhaps that helps my wellbeing too?
LB
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