Yoga Beneficial in Atrial Fibrillation Cases, Controls High Blood Pressure

You must have heard a good deal about the benefits of regular yoga in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but research has also given it a thumbs-up in curing atrial fibrillation (AF) and high blood pressure.

According to a study, yogic practices like breathing, meditation and light movements go a long way in maintaining a healthy heart and helping people who suffer from atrial fibrillation, a condition characterized by abnormal heart rhythm and irregular beating.

Atrial fibrillation is a very common heart rhythm disorder in developed countries, with nearly 1.5-2 percent of the population in its grip. It affects the two upper chambers of the heart and hinders the blood pumping in the ventricles. The blood is pooled in the upper chambers which creates an imbalance in the functioning of the upper and lower chambers of the heart, resulting in irregular heart rhythm.

This recent study was conducted by the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, on 80 patients suffering from paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, over a 12-week period. The patients were divided into two groups. One group was given the standard treatment while the other was offered a yoga program in addition to the regular treatment. Both were evaluated using two validated questionnaires, the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the EuroQoL-5D (EQ-5D) Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

It was found that the participants who practiced yoga regularly showed substantial improvement in heart rate and blood pressure. They also reported a better quality of life and sense of well-being.

As per study team lead Maria Wahlstrom, people who suffer from atrial fibrillation often complain of chest pain, dizziness and difficulty in breathing when the AF episodes occur. It causes them great discomfort and they start living with the fear that they will get it again. It makes them anxious and further deteriorates their condition.

In such a scenario, yoga comes across as great help. The light movements help in lowering the blood pressure while deep breathing balances the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system, which balances the variations in heart rate.