United States: According to a recent study, yoga can benefit heart failure patients’ long-term health. It also helps to relax your body and mind through the different posses and the breathing techniques which helps in making you feel calm and strong.
Research Insights
Lead researcher Dr. Ajit Singh of the Indian Council of Medical Research and Manipal Academy of Higher Education in India stated in a news release that “patients who practiced yoga on top of taking their medications felt better, were able to do more, and had stronger hearts than those who only took drugs for their heart failure.”
According to studies, heart failure can have a catastrophic impact on a person’s quality of life, leaving patients exhausted, out of breath, and unable to engage in their regular activities.
Heart Failure Challenges
Eighty-five patients, aged between thirty and seventy, receiving heart failure treatment at Kasturba Hospital in Manipal, India, were included in the study. All of them were on cardiac medication and had had heart procedures within the last year.
Forty participants in yoga were selected by the researchers, while 45 patients served as the control group, taking only their medication.
Yoga Practice
The yoga group members learned a breathing, meditation, and relaxation-focused yoga practice over the course of a week. After that, they were told to keep practicing yoga alone, at home, for 50 minutes once a week.
Every participant’s heart was examined by researchers at the start of the trial, six months later, and a year later.
Monitoring Progress
The researchers assessed blood pressure, heart rate, body weight, body mass index (BMI), heart pumping capacity, and the operation of the heart’s primary pumping chamber. Body mass index (BMI) calculates body fat from weight and height.
Positive Outcomes:
Researchers conclude that at six months and a year, the yoga group showed much higher improvements across all those parameters.
According to Singh, “patients who practiced yoga had healthier hearts and were more capable of performing daily tasks like walking and climbing stairs than those who only took medications.”
Safety Considerations
He did, however, caution individuals with heart failure to consult their physician prior to beginning yoga and to get instruction from a qualified teacher. Unless advised differently by their physician, they should also continue taking any prescription drugs.
“Those with heart failure who have severe symptoms and were not included in our study may find yoga inappropriate,” Singh stated.
The results were given on Sunday in Lisbon, Portugal, during a meeting of the European Society of Cardiology.