Heart Disease :: Yoga, meditation, exercise reduces stress n anxiety

Numerous studies have indicated that psychological distress, including anxiety, is a significant risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD).

The researchers observed a very high prevalence of anxiety (40 percent) and moderate to severe anxiety symptoms (19 percent) in patients younger than 55 years. The prevalence in this age group was almost twice as high in the older patients.

Men and women had a similar prevalence of anxiety and high anxiety symptoms.

The rehabilitation program lasted 12 weeks and consisted of 36 educational and exercise sessions. The sessions consisted of 10 minutes of warm-up, 30 to 40 minutes of continuous up-right exercise, and 10 minutes of cool-down.

After completing the cardiac rehabilitation and exercise training programs, the prevalence of anxiety was reduced by 56 percent and the prevalence of high anxiety was reduced by 69 percent, the researchers report.

Patients with high anxiety levels also had improvements in obesity levels, exercise capacity, lipid levels and behavioral characteristics, as well as overall quality of life, they add.

The investigators call for greater attention to detecting and treating chronic anxiety in heart patients, especially with formal cardiac rehabilitation, to aid in the prevention of second CAD episodes.


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