Open AccessMeditation and Cardiovascular Risk Reduction: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Author(s) -
RichardA. Lange,
C. NoelBairey-Merz,
Richard J. Davidson,
Kenneth Jamerson,
Puja K. Mehta,
Erin D. Michos,
Keith Norris,
Indranill Basu Ray,
Karen L. Saban,
Tina Shah,
Richard Stein
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of the american heart association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.494
H-Index - 85
ISSN - 2047-9980
DOI - 10.1161/jaha.117.004176
Subject(s) - transcendental meditation , meditation , medicine , statement (logic) , association (psychology) , psychology , theology , psychotherapist , epistemology , philosophy
—Despite numerous advances in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Novel and inexpensive interventions that can contribute to the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease are of interest. Numerous studies have reported on the benefits ofmeditation.Meditation instruction and practice is widely accessible and inexpensive and may thus be a potential attractive cost-effective adjunct to more traditional medical therapies. Accordingly, this American Heart Association scientific statement systematically reviewed the data on the potential benefits of meditation on cardiovascular risk. Neurophysiological and neuroanatomical studies demonstrate thatmeditation can have long-standing effects on the brain, which provide some biological plausibility for beneficial consequences on the physiological basal state and on cardiovascular risk. Studies of the effects ofmeditationoncardiovascular risk have included those investigating physiological response to stress, smoking cessation, blood pressure reduction, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, endothelial function, inducible myocardial ischemia, and primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Overall, studies of meditation suggest a possible benefit on cardiovascular risk, although the overall quality and, in some cases, quantity of study data aremodest. Given the low costs and low risks of this intervention, meditation may be considered as an adjunct to guideline-directed cardiovascular risk reduction by those interested in this lifestyle modification, with the understanding that the benefits of such intervention remain to be better established. Further researchonmeditationand cardiovascular risk iswarranted. Such studies, to thedegree possible, should utilize randomized study design, be adequately powered tomeet the primary study outcome, strive to achieve low drop-out rates, include long-term follow-up, and be performed by those without inherent bias in outcome. ( J AmHeart Assoc. 2017;6:e002218. DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.117.002218.)