The occurrence of cardiovascular disease is associated with a more than twofold increase in the risk of developing mental illness. One in five patients with heart disease has a diagnosed mental disorder.
In a new study, experts examined how meditation affects stress, anxiety, depression and quality of life in people with coronary heart disease. The study included 40 people who had participated in a rehabilitation program for at least six months. The average age of the participants is 65 and 20% of the participants are women. Also, some participants did karuna meditation for four months. It focuses on compassionate thoughts and breathing.
A group of meditators did 90-minute meditation sessions each week for a month. For the next three months, they were asked to meditate for 20 minutes a day, either on their own or using a tape.
As a result, the average depression, stress and anxiety scores decreased by 44%, 31% and 29%, respectively. For those who did not meditate, the reduction was 3% in all cases. In addition, the average scores on the emotional aspect of quality of life increased by 60% in the meditation group and 2% in the normal group at 4 months.
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Source: Ferra
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