Yoga to Steady the Heartbeat

There are many people are doing yoga nowadays. As we know that there are yoga classes available for women, man, kids and even dogs. I have read an article about yoga lately. It is stated that yoga helps to steady our heartbeat. Thus I would like to share this article with you.

According to a study released in the US, people who suffer from irregular heartbeat may see their episodes cut in half if they do yoga regularly. Doing yoga 3 times a week also reduced depress ion and anxiety while boosting people’s opinion of their own social and mental wellbeing, said the study, presented at a New Orleans cardiology conference.


“It appears yoga has a significant impact on helping to regulate patients’ heartbeat and improving their overall life quality,” said lead study author Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy, associate professor of medicine at University of Kansas Hospital.


The study followed 49 patients who suffer from atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat rhythm c9ndition that arises when the heart’s natural electrical signals fire off in a disorganised way, causing the heart to quiver.

For the first 3 months of the trial, patients were allowed to engage in their usual exercise routine. For the second 3 months, patients attended 3 yoga sessions per with with a certified instructor, and were encouraged to practice at home with an educational DVD.


All the patients in the study were new to yoga. Researchers measured the subjects’ episodes of irregular heartbeats using portable monitors and log books where the patients recorded their own symptoms.


The yoga intervention “significantly reduced” irregular heartbeat episodes by about half on average, compares to the control portion of the study when patients did their own exercises, said the study.


Depression and anxiety scores on self-reported surveys were also lower, and physical function, general health, vitality, social functioning and mental health were higher.


From the article, it shows that yoga helps us on heath. So, do you plan to start doing yoga?!

 
(Article adapted from the Sun paper dated 8/2/2011)