By Dr. Deepak Mittal
September 23, 2022 (IANSlife) The ancient practice of meditation can do more than just relax the mind. Recent studies have revealed that meditation can positively impact heart health by reducing stress and lowering blood pressure and heart rate. Mindfulness and meditation can benefit overall health, including heart health. The age-old practice uses quiet contemplation, breathing and sustained focus to help let go of stress and feel more calm and peaceful. It can be thought of as a mini-vacation from stress in life.
Psychological stress increases the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. This causes a release of harmful hormones cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline. These harmful hormones fasten the heart rate, increase cardiac output and narrow the arteries. As meditation induces deep relaxation in the mind and body, the stress subsides, and stability is restored.
How to Make Meditation a Habit?
Once people understand the basics of the practice, the next challenge is making it a habit. Like every other lifestyle change, it takes time to incorporate meditation into everyday life and build it into a routine. Here are some tips:
Meditation to Connect with the Heart’s Energy
Here are some simple steps to connect with the heart’s Energy:
Why Meditation can be Useful for Heart Health?
Several studies have shown that meditation can lower stress levels, reduce cortisol levels and improve heart health. Meditation can activate the “rest-and-digest” functions of the body, which counteracts the “flight-or-fight” responses. With daily meditation practice, people can lower their heart rate and blood pressure, which may reduce the risk of heart diseases.
Here’s a look into what different studies have to say about meditation and heart health.
It takes time to learn meditation and gain confidence, as with any new endeavour. The important thing is to practice every day, even if only for a few minutes. Meditation, no matter how brief, is always preferable to doing nothing. A schedule can also be used to establish a routine. In addition, every day, one should try to practice meditation. Daily practice can have enormous benefits not only for the heart, but also for the mind, body, and soul.
(Dr. Deepak Mittal, Founder, Divine Soul Yoga)
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