November 18, 2009
Meditation Cuts Heart Attack Risk in Half
A clinical trial found better results from meditation than from
statin drugs.
Meditation Cuts Heart Attack Risk in Half
A clinical trial found better results from meditation than from
statin drugs.
SUMMARY: Meditation can cut the risk of heart attacks, stroke, and death by
almost 50% in patients with existing coronary heart disease, according to a new
clinical trial. Relaxation and mental focusing can be as effective as powerful
new drugs.
Preventive medicine specialist Robert Schneider from Iowa and Endocrinologist
Theodore Kotchen based in Milwaukee collaborated in a test of how effective
transcendental meditation (TM) can be on the risk of heart attack. They enlisted
201 patients, all of whom were African American, a high-risk group for heart
disease and all of whom had narrowed coronary arteries.
TM is the "most widely used meditation technique" and was invented by an
Indian guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It grew in popularity in the 1960s thanks to
reports that the Beatles practiced it. The technique requires the practitioner to
focus on repetitions of a single sound or mantra, such as a phrase from Hindu
scripture. It has been shown to decrease blood pressure, reduce stress, and
improve mental health, at least in college students. Its effect on overall health
or with other ethnic groups is not clear.
In the trial, a control group was given standard treatment involving drugs and
also an educational course in cardiovascular health. A second group was told to
practice transcendental meditation for 15 to 20 minutes a day. After 5 years (9
years in some cases) the TM group experienced 47% fewer heart attacks,
strokes, and deaths. For comparison, statin drugs, which reduce cholesterol
levels, tend to lower life-threatening events by 25-30%.
The reason for such a dramatic improvement isn't obvious, but meditating
patients had lower blood pressure, and past studies indicated meditation
reduces stress hormone levels and dampens the sympathetic nervous system,
which triggers the body's stress response. "We've shown that the brain has a
direct positive influence on clinical outcomes," says Schneider.
Cardiologist Herbert Benson from Massachusetts praised the study, but he
says other stress-reducing techniques such as yoga "or even prayer" may be
just as powerful.
(Link to the original article has been broken.)
COMMENT: It is not news that one's mind can affect how one physically reacts
whether it is something as innocent as blushing or as serious as extreme anger
leading to a heart attack. The advice often given to an agitated person to
"relax" does have scientific support when it comes to better health. Meditation,
when properly practiced, does seem to relax people. This report then should
not be a complete surprise.
For Bible-based Christians though, the type of meditation is very important.
Why would we want to constantly repeat a phrase from a different religion when
the Bible alone comes to us from God Himself (2 Peter 1:21, 2 Timothy 3:16)?
He warns us about putting too much trust in worldly things (1 John 2:15,
Jeremiah 17:5).
Instead Christians are encouraged to meditate on God's Word (Joshua 1:8,
Luke 24:32) and to pray (Psalm 145:18, 1 John 5:14). While some
non-Christian meditation practices may apparently provide some benefits, only
meditating on God's Holy Word can give us help not only from within but also
from outside of ourselves, namely from God, the Great Healer. My suggestion
to Dr. Benson when he is mentioning meditation techniques is to say "and
especially prayer" instead of "or even prayer."
God not only has the power to heal our bodies, if He so wishes, but even more
important He has a plan to heal our souls so that we can enjoy eternity with Him.
This He does when He washes away the sins of all those who have repented of
their misdeeds and have come to faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior.
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QUESTION OF THE DAY
What kinds of wood are healthiest to burn in the fireplace?
**************************************************************************************
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containing alternate views. However, comments containing profanity or
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several hours for it to appear on the blog.
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almost 50% in patients with existing coronary heart disease, according to a new
clinical trial. Relaxation and mental focusing can be as effective as powerful
new drugs.
Preventive medicine specialist Robert Schneider from Iowa and Endocrinologist
Theodore Kotchen based in Milwaukee collaborated in a test of how effective
transcendental meditation (TM) can be on the risk of heart attack. They enlisted
201 patients, all of whom were African American, a high-risk group for heart
disease and all of whom had narrowed coronary arteries.
TM is the "most widely used meditation technique" and was invented by an
Indian guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It grew in popularity in the 1960s thanks to
reports that the Beatles practiced it. The technique requires the practitioner to
focus on repetitions of a single sound or mantra, such as a phrase from Hindu
scripture. It has been shown to decrease blood pressure, reduce stress, and
improve mental health, at least in college students. Its effect on overall health
or with other ethnic groups is not clear.
In the trial, a control group was given standard treatment involving drugs and
also an educational course in cardiovascular health. A second group was told to
practice transcendental meditation for 15 to 20 minutes a day. After 5 years (9
years in some cases) the TM group experienced 47% fewer heart attacks,
strokes, and deaths. For comparison, statin drugs, which reduce cholesterol
levels, tend to lower life-threatening events by 25-30%.
The reason for such a dramatic improvement isn't obvious, but meditating
patients had lower blood pressure, and past studies indicated meditation
reduces stress hormone levels and dampens the sympathetic nervous system,
which triggers the body's stress response. "We've shown that the brain has a
direct positive influence on clinical outcomes," says Schneider.
Cardiologist Herbert Benson from Massachusetts praised the study, but he
says other stress-reducing techniques such as yoga "or even prayer" may be
just as powerful.
(Link to the original article has been broken.)
COMMENT: It is not news that one's mind can affect how one physically reacts
whether it is something as innocent as blushing or as serious as extreme anger
leading to a heart attack. The advice often given to an agitated person to
"relax" does have scientific support when it comes to better health. Meditation,
when properly practiced, does seem to relax people. This report then should
not be a complete surprise.
For Bible-based Christians though, the type of meditation is very important.
Why would we want to constantly repeat a phrase from a different religion when
the Bible alone comes to us from God Himself (2 Peter 1:21, 2 Timothy 3:16)?
He warns us about putting too much trust in worldly things (1 John 2:15,
Jeremiah 17:5).
Instead Christians are encouraged to meditate on God's Word (Joshua 1:8,
Luke 24:32) and to pray (Psalm 145:18, 1 John 5:14). While some
non-Christian meditation practices may apparently provide some benefits, only
meditating on God's Holy Word can give us help not only from within but also
from outside of ourselves, namely from God, the Great Healer. My suggestion
to Dr. Benson when he is mentioning meditation techniques is to say "and
especially prayer" instead of "or even prayer."
God not only has the power to heal our bodies, if He so wishes, but even more
important He has a plan to heal our souls so that we can enjoy eternity with Him.
This He does when He washes away the sins of all those who have repented of
their misdeeds and have come to faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior.
**************************************************************************************
Want to be automatically notified each time there is a new post? Just e-mail
your request to [admin@lutheranscience.org].
**************************************************************************************
QUESTION OF THE DAY
What kinds of wood are healthiest to burn in the fireplace?
**************************************************************************************
NOTE ON VISITOR COMMENTS: Visitor comments are invited including those
containing alternate views. However, comments containing profanity or
advertisements will not be published. After posting a comment, please allow
several hours for it to appear on the blog.
**************************************************************************************
0 Comments
| LSI stands for the Lutheran Science Institute, an organization of WELS and ELS Lutherans interested in science and health issues with a special emphasis on the creation and evolution controversy. This blog's purpose is to search the Internet to find articles of interest to Christians. Views expressed are those of the author (Warren Krug) and are not necessarily those of the Lutheran Science Institute, Inc. |
It can be unhealthy to inhale any wood
smoke. However, dry, seasoned wood
like oak, maple, birch and poplar
produces less smoke than soft woods
like pine or wet, moldy logs.
Source: Dr. James Hubbard in American
Profile (October 25-31, 2009)
smoke. However, dry, seasoned wood
like oak, maple, birch and poplar
produces less smoke than soft woods
like pine or wet, moldy logs.
Source: Dr. James Hubbard in American
Profile (October 25-31, 2009)