Meditation reduces heart attack risk dramatically

The practice, which involves the continual repeating of a mantra, was found to reduce high blood pressure, cholesterol and thickening of the arteries. It is also protects against diabetes. According to a spokesperson for the National Institute of Mental Health, "the prevention of heart attack and stroke and actual lengthening of lifespan by an alternative treatment method is exceedingly rare, if not unprecedented. If Transcendental Meditation were a drug conferring so many benefits, it would be a billion-dollar blockbuster."

Researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin followed men and women with an average age of 59 who suffered from the narrowing of arteries in their hearts for nine years. Half of the group were taught Transcendental Meditation along with their normal treatment while the others just received advice on how to modify their diets and exercise routines. They found that those who regularly meditated reduced their chances of dying or having a heart attack or stroke by 47 per cent compared with those who received traditional care. In those who were particularly enthusiastic about the meditation or unusually susceptible to stress, the results were even stronger. They showed a two-thirds reduction in chances of dying during the trial.

The study builds on previous research findings showing that the Transcendental Meditation program reduces high blood pressure, high cholesterol, insulin resistance, psychological stress, and atherosclerosis, and takes it to the next step — lower rates of death, heart attack, and stroke. The practice, which is carried out for 20 minutes, twice a day, is said to induce inner peace by allowing thoughts to flow in and out of the mind. The study is due to appear in Archives of Internal Medicine.