Research has shown that stress is not good for the heart. To combat stress, some people participate in meditation practices. A number of studies, across both healthy and diseased populations, have studied the influence of meditation on the stress response. Most of the studies report improvements in overall well-being. Study participants typically reported improvements in levels of perceived stress, mood, depression, anxiety, and quality of sleep.
Only a few of the studies focused directly on reducing stress in cardiovascular disease patients. Of the studies that did, researchers found that patients who meditated for 20 minutes a day, twice daily, for three months tended to report lower levels of stress and anger and enjoyed an improved quality-of-life.
Generally, studies use salivary cortisol as the most commonly researched biomarker to examine the mechanisms by which meditation altar is the body‘s response to stress. Results from the studies have been mixed with some improvements or no changes being reported.
The above video, from Time Health, discusses the statement issued on meditation by the American Heart Association.
