A recent study published in JAMA Network Open demonstrates how mindfulness-based interventions can significantly benefit individuals with elevated blood pressure, particularly by improving self-awareness and adherence to heart-healthy diets.
This research, led by Eric B. Loucks, an associate professor at Brown University, emphasizes the importance of mindfulness in influencing dietary choices and managing blood pressure.
The study involved participants who took part in an eight-week mindfulness-based blood pressure reduction program (MB-BP) developed by Loucks in 2014.
This program combines meditation, yoga, and training in self-awareness, attention control, and emotion regulation, with a unique focus on behaviors that lower blood pressure.
KEY FINDINGS
- Improvement in Diet: Participants in the mindfulness program exhibited significant improvements in adhering to the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, a balanced eating plan recommended for lowering blood pressure.
- Increased Self-Awareness: The study also found a notable improvement in interoceptive awareness among participants, meaning they became more attuned to the signals their bodies were sending, particularly in relation to eating habits.
- Control Group Comparison: Compared to a control group that received only educational brochures on controlling high blood pressure, the mindfulness group showed a more significant improvement in both adherence to the DASH diet and self-awareness.
The mindfulness training included group sessions, a day-long retreat, and home practice, with classes conducted at Brown University and a health center in a lower-income, urban neighborhood.
The program’s personalized approach and incorporation of mindfulness skills toward managing hypertension risk factors set it apart.
Loucks highlights the global impact of high blood pressure as a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease and early death.
He emphasizes that almost everyone can control their blood pressure through diet, physical activity, medication adherence, minimizing alcohol intake, and stress management.
This research is particularly relevant given the low typical adherence rates to the DASH diet.
By showing that mindfulness can improve dietary habits and self-awareness, the study offers a promising approach to managing hypertension and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
The researchers are now exploring various “doses” of the program, such as shorter lengths and fewer sessions, and examining factors that influence the implementation of the MB-BP plan in real-world settings.
This includes considerations for health insurance coverage, accessibility, and physician flexibility.
Funded by the National Institutes of Health Science of Behavior Change Common Fund Program, this study provides valuable insights into how mindfulness training can be a powerful tool in promoting heart-healthy lifestyle changes.
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The research findings can be found in JAMA Network Open.
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