CAN MEDITATION HELP LOWER YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE?

By Allen Irwin

Meditation is a centuries-old practice that involves focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity to train attention and awareness. It has been used for a wide range of purposes, including reducing stress, improving sleep, and promoting overall well-being. But can meditation also help to lower blood pressure?

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a serious health condition that can lead to heart attacks, strokes and other serious complications. It is often treated with medications, lifestyle changes, and other therapies, but some people are turning to meditation as a natural and holistic approach to managing blood pressure.

There is some evidence to suggest that meditation can help to lower blood pressure. A review of several studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), a form of meditation that focuses on present-moment awareness, was associated with a small but significant reduction in blood pressure in people with hypertension. Another study published in the American Journal of Hypertension found that transcendental meditation (TM), a form of meditation that involves the use of a mantra to induce a state of deep relaxation, was associated with significant reductions in blood pressure in people with high blood pressure.

It’s not entirely clear how meditation may help to lower blood pressure, but it is thought to work by reducing stress and anxiety, which are known to contribute to high blood pressure. When we’re stressed or anxious, our bodies release stress hormones that cause our blood vessels to constrict, which can increase blood pressure. By reducing stress and anxiety through meditation, we may be able to relax the blood vessels and lower blood pressure.

Meditation may also help to lower blood pressure by improving heart health. Some studies have found that meditation can improve heart rate variability, which is a measure of how well the heart adjusts to changes in demand. A healthy heart is able to adjust to changes in demand more easily, which may help to reduce the risk of heart attacks and other heart-related problems.

While meditation may be a useful tool for managing blood pressure, it’s important to keep in mind that it is not a replacement for traditional treatments. If you have high blood pressure, it’s important to work with your healthcare provider to develop a treatment plan that is right for you. This may include medications, lifestyle changes, and other therapies, in addition to meditation.

Meditation may be a helpful tool for managing blood pressure, particularly in combination with other treatments. If you’re interested in using meditation to lower your blood pressure, it’s a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider first and to consider incorporating it into your overall treatment plan.