Young adults who complete a program of training in transcendental meditation, and who are at risk of hypertension, are able to use the relaxation method to lower their blood pressure and levels of psychological distress, according to a study published online Oct. 1 and in the December issue of the American Journal of Hypertension.
Sanford I. Nidich, Ph.D., of the Maharishi University of Management Research Institute, Maharishi Vedic City, Iowa, and colleagues conducted a study of 298 university students who were randomized to either a waiting list or a program of transcendental meditation training. The subjects' blood pressure levels, psychological distress and coping ability were assessed at baseline and after three months.
The researchers found that, in the intervention group, there was a reduction in systolic blood pressure of −2.0 mm Hg, and a −1.2 mm Hg reduction in diastolic blood pressure, compared to an increase of 0.4 mm Hg and 0.5 mm Hg, for systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively, in the control group.
"This is the first randomized controlled trial to demonstrate that a selected mind-body intervention, the transcendental meditation program, decreased blood pressure in association with decreased psychological distress and increased coping in young adults at risk for hypertension," the authors write. "This mind-body program may reduce the risk for future development of hypertension in young adults."
One of the study's authors is a consultant to Maharishi Health Technologies L.L.C.
Source: HealthDay News
Friday 20 November 2009
Thursday 19 November 2009
Study claims grapes reduce blood pressure in rats
Grapes can help lower blood pressure and improve heart function, new research has revealed.
Scientists examined the effects of red, green and purple grapes on rats that develop high blood pressure when fed a salty diet.
After 18 weeks, the rats that ate the grape-enriched diet had lower blood pressure, better heart function, reduced inflammation throughout their bodies, and fewer signs of heart muscle damage than rats that ate a salty diet but no grapes.
Researcher Mitchell Seymour of Michigan State University says the findings support the theory that grapes themselves have a direct impact on heart disease risk, "beyond the simple blood pressure lowering impact already known to come from a diet rich in fruits and vegetables."
"The inevitable downhill sequence to hypertension and heart failure was changed by the addition of grapes to a high-salt diet," says research leader Dr Steven Bolling. The grapes comprised about 3% of the rats’ diet. For humans, that would be about nine servings, or 135 grapes, a day.
Source:NBR staff Thursday November 19 2009 - 12:25pm
Scientists examined the effects of red, green and purple grapes on rats that develop high blood pressure when fed a salty diet.
After 18 weeks, the rats that ate the grape-enriched diet had lower blood pressure, better heart function, reduced inflammation throughout their bodies, and fewer signs of heart muscle damage than rats that ate a salty diet but no grapes.
Researcher Mitchell Seymour of Michigan State University says the findings support the theory that grapes themselves have a direct impact on heart disease risk, "beyond the simple blood pressure lowering impact already known to come from a diet rich in fruits and vegetables."
"The inevitable downhill sequence to hypertension and heart failure was changed by the addition of grapes to a high-salt diet," says research leader Dr Steven Bolling. The grapes comprised about 3% of the rats’ diet. For humans, that would be about nine servings, or 135 grapes, a day.
Source:NBR staff Thursday November 19 2009 - 12:25pm
Migraine increases likelihood of stroke
People who suffer migraines have more than double the risk of ischemic stroke, and the risk is especially high in women, a new study has found.
Ischemic stroke, the most common type of stroke, occurs when blood supply to the brain is cut off by plaque accumulation or a blood clot.
In this study, researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine reviewed the findings of 21 studies that included a total of 622,381 men and women, aged 18 to 70, in Europe and North America. Those with migraines were 2.3 times more likely than people without migraines to suffer ischemic stroke. The risk was 2.5 times higher for migraine sufferers who experienced aura (visual disturbances such as flashing lights, zigzag lines and blurred vision), and for women experiencing aura, 2.9 times higher.
The study was to be presented Monday at the American Heart Association's annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, USA.
The findings reinforce the link between migraine and stroke and also correct some discrepancies in previous analyses that yielded mixed results, according to Hopkins cardiologist and senior study investigator Dr. Saman Nazarian.
Nazarian said nearly 1,800 articles have been written about the relationship between migraine and stroke, but the Hopkins review is believed to be the largest of its kind and was more selective, including only studies that used similar designs and groups of people.
"Identifying people at highest risk is crucial to preventing disabling strokes. Based on this data, physicians should consider addressing stroke risk factors in patients with a history or signs of light flashes and blurry vision associated with severe headaches," Nazarian said in a Hopkins news release.
There are a number of migraine prevention and treatment options, including smoking cessation, taking medications to lower blood pressure or taking blood-thinning drugs such as aspirin, Nazarian added. For women with migraines, additional options include discontinuing use of birth control pills or stopping hormone replacement therapy.
Source:HealthDay News
Ischemic stroke, the most common type of stroke, occurs when blood supply to the brain is cut off by plaque accumulation or a blood clot.
In this study, researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine reviewed the findings of 21 studies that included a total of 622,381 men and women, aged 18 to 70, in Europe and North America. Those with migraines were 2.3 times more likely than people without migraines to suffer ischemic stroke. The risk was 2.5 times higher for migraine sufferers who experienced aura (visual disturbances such as flashing lights, zigzag lines and blurred vision), and for women experiencing aura, 2.9 times higher.
The study was to be presented Monday at the American Heart Association's annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, USA.
The findings reinforce the link between migraine and stroke and also correct some discrepancies in previous analyses that yielded mixed results, according to Hopkins cardiologist and senior study investigator Dr. Saman Nazarian.
Nazarian said nearly 1,800 articles have been written about the relationship between migraine and stroke, but the Hopkins review is believed to be the largest of its kind and was more selective, including only studies that used similar designs and groups of people.
"Identifying people at highest risk is crucial to preventing disabling strokes. Based on this data, physicians should consider addressing stroke risk factors in patients with a history or signs of light flashes and blurry vision associated with severe headaches," Nazarian said in a Hopkins news release.
There are a number of migraine prevention and treatment options, including smoking cessation, taking medications to lower blood pressure or taking blood-thinning drugs such as aspirin, Nazarian added. For women with migraines, additional options include discontinuing use of birth control pills or stopping hormone replacement therapy.
Source:HealthDay News
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