EFFECT OF SHORT-TERM PRANAYAMA AND MEDITATION ON CARDIOVASCULAR FUNCTIONS IN HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS

Author Name: Anamul Hoque

Volume: 01 &  Issue:

Country: India

DOI NO.: 08.2020-25662434 DOI Link: http://www.doi-ds.org/doilink/10.2020-16862119/

Affiliation:

1. Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India

ABSTRACT

Asana, pranayama, and meditation are three main techniques of yoga practiced in India over thousands of years to realize functional harmony between the body and mind. Recent studies on long-term yogic practices have shown improvements in cardiovascular functions. The present study was conducted to work out if a short-term practice of pranayama and meditation had improvements in cardiovascular functions in healthy individuals with regard to age, gender, and body mass index (BMI). This interventional study was conducted within the Department of physiology of Kolkata Medical College, Kolkata. Fifty healthy subjects (24 males and 26 females) of 20–60 years age group, fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria underwent two hours daily yoga program for 15 days taught by a licensed yoga teacher. Pre and post yoga cardiovascular functions were assessed by recording pulse, systolic sign, diastolic sign, and mean sign. The parameters were analyzed by Student's t test. There was significant reduction in resting pulse, systolic sign, diastolic sign, and mean vital sign after practicing pranayama and meditation for 15 days. The response was similar in both the genders, the age groups, 40 yrs and both the groups with BMI, 25 kg/m2. This study showed beneficial effects of short term (15 days) regular pranayama and meditation practice on cardiovascular functions no matter age, gender, and BMI in normal healthy individuals.

Key words: Mean vital sign, meditation, pulse, short term pranayama.