Stress, the Heart and Relaxation
Just how does stress experienced by the brain result in biological changes in the heart? A clue may come from centuries of accumulated medical wisdom on relaxation. For thousands of years, cultures have developed and perfected ways of inducing a calm state of mind and physical relaxation. Practices such as meditation, yoga, deep breathing, chanting, and prayer all elicit the so-called "relaxation response," which can create a state of deep rest. Individuals who regularly practice such relaxation methods suffer less from anxiety and depression, and have a healthier heart, lower blood pressure, and better brain function.
A recent study focused on finding genes that are activated during the relaxation response. In the battle between the heart and mind, it appears that the two are closely linked. This link is present in healthy individuals and those suffering from heart disease. The researchers found that practices such as prayer, meditation, experiencing positive emotions, and yoga significantly altered the expression of genes that govern cell death, and reduced free radical damage and inflammation. Not only did relaxation practices reduce cellular damage, but all practices had the same effect, whether the practice was chanting, meditation, or prayer.
Overall, it appears that the connection between stress, negative emotions and the heart is quite clear. The prolonged release of stress hormones into the blood brought on by either emotional or physical stress can have the same detrimental cardiac effects. It is important to recognize the signs and symptoms of stress to avoid potentially deadly consequences of stress-related cardiac diseases.
Dr. Eldred Taylor travels throughout the United States lecturing about healthy living and integrative medicine. Ava Bell-Taylor is the writer and Eldred is the researcher. This is an excerpt from their book, The Stress Connection.
