More than a stretch: Yoga’s benefits may extend to the heart

As a long-time yoga enthusiast, I’m always happy to hear about benefits newly attributed to this ancient practice. Doing yoga for a few hours each week helps me feel calmer and more balanced, both physically and mentally. Now, new research suggests that my habit also may be helping my heart. A recent review of yoga and cardiovascular disease published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology indicates that yoga may help lower heart disease risk as much as conventional exercise, such as brisk walking. As I write in the April issue of the Harvard Heart Letter, the studies in the review looked at different types of yoga, including both gentler and more energetic forms. The participants ranged from young, healthy individuals to older people with health conditions. Over all, people who took yoga classes saw improvements in a number of factors that affect heart disease risk. They lost an average of five pounds, shaved five points off their blood pressure, and lowered their levels of harmful LDL cholesterol by 12 points. The findings came as no surprise to Dr. Gloria Yeh, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and co-author of the review article. “Yoga is unique because it incorporates physical activity, breathing, and meditation,” says Dr. Yeh. As she explains, each of these elements positively affects cardiovascular risk factors, so combining them was bound to show a benefit. In addition, two other ancient practices that join slow, f...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Complementary and alternative medicine Heart Health alternative therapy cardiovascular disease exercise yoga Source Type: news