Mindfulness-based stress reduction can lower blood pressure risk, a research by Kent State University shows.
Researchers Joel Hughes and David Fresco, both associate professors of psychology at KSU, found that MBSR, a stress reduction program "may be an appropriate complementary treatment" for people with high blood-pressure.
MBSR involves the practice of meditation, body awareness and some gentle yoga. It is known to be effective in preventing and treating depression and anxiety, alleviating stress. However, there is little scientific proof supporting the theory.
For the study, they examined 56 adults from Northeastern Ohio. The participants were put through some body scan exercises, meditation and yoga. They continued this for eight weeks and attended sessions for two and a half hours a week.
The study results showed that the participants who practiced mindfulness-based stress reduction had considerable decrease in blood pressure, when compared with participants who were given progressive muscle relaxation therapy, the researchers stated in a press release.
Hughes noted that apart from the medication, people with high blood pressure can opt for mindfulness-stress reduction. He also said that some patients showed no signs of improvement even after medication. "The use of MBSR was only slightly less effective than blood pressure medication," said Hughes.
"It's all about training this attention muscle in the brain," Fresco said. The goal is to reduce stress and strengthen the resolve to change behavior patterns.
Hughes and Fresco are planning to follow up with a longer study involving 180 adults to know more about the effects of MBSR practice on blood pressure.
