Heart patients may find help in an unexpected place: meditation.
A new study presented at a big conference, the ESC Preventive Cardiology 2023, found that four months of meditation could improve the lives of patients with coronary artery disease.
The Problem with Heart Disease
Heart disease can be really hard on people, both physically and mentally. People who have heart disease are often stressed, anxious, and depressed.
They also have a higher chance of having a mental health condition.
On top of that, they need to make lifestyle changes and take medicine to manage their condition, which can be tough to do if they’re dealing with mental health problems.
About the Study
The study was led by Ms. Ana Luisa Vitorino Monteiro, who teaches meditation and does research at the University of Lisbon, Portugal.
Her team worked with 40 patients who had coronary artery disease, which is a type of heart disease. The patients were, on average, 65 years old, and 20% of them were women.
All the patients had been part of an exercise program for at least six months. The team divided the patients into two groups.
One group kept doing the exercise program, while the other group added meditation to their routine.
What the Meditation Looked Like
The meditation used in the study is called “karuna meditation”. This meditation is all about breathing and thinking compassionate thoughts.
The patients in the meditation group had one 90-minute meditation session every week for a month. Then, for the next three months, they meditated for 20 minutes each day.
They could do it on their own or listen to a recording from the research team. The team also called them every week to answer any questions.
The Results of the Study
The team checked in on the patients at the start of the study and after four months. They looked at the patients’ stress, anxiety, depression, and overall quality of life.
The results showed big changes in the meditation group. On average, their stress levels went down by 31%, anxiety by 29%, and depression by 44%.
They also felt better overall, with a 60% increase in their emotional quality of life. The exercise-only group didn’t see much change: 3% reductions in stress, anxiety, and depression, and a 2% decrease in emotional quality of life.
What This Means for Heart Patients
Ms. Vitorino Monteiro explained that meditation is simple, can be done anywhere, and doesn’t need any special equipment.
This study showed that it could help heart patients feel better, both mentally and emotionally. She hopes that this improvement could also encourage them to make healthier lifestyle choices.
In other words, heart patients who meditate could end up feeling less stressed, less anxious, and less depressed.
They could feel better overall, and they might even be more likely to make changes that help them manage their heart disease.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about the best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease, and scientists find how COVID-19 damages the heart.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about Aspirin linked to a higher risk of heart failure, and results showing this drug could reduce heart disease, fatty liver, and obesity.
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