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Does practice of Transcendental Meditation decrease risk factors for stroke?

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12 July 2011

Cardiologists César Molina, M.D., F.A.C.C.,** and Robert Schneider, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.A.B.M.R., discuss the role of the Transcendental Meditation technique in reducing risk factors for stroke. In this first article in a series, Dr Molina answers two questions:

Q: Does practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique decrease the risk factors of stroke?

Dr. Molina: The Transcendental Meditation technique has been shown to decrease carotid artery atherosclerosis, the thickening of the carotid artery. Carotid artery atherosclerosis, after hypertension, is one of the top three risk factors for stroke. (The three top risk factors are high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation and carotid atherosclerosis.) The Transcendental Meditation program has also been shown to decrease hypertension.

Q: Do you recommend the Transcendental Meditation technique to help reduce the risk factors for heart attack and stroke?

Dr. Molina: Actually, I recommend the Transcendental Meditation the Transcendental Meditation technique to anyone, because you don't have to be sick to meditate.

There have been studies showing that Transcendental Meditation technique increases longevity and decreases cardiovascular death, as compared to control groups that did nothing, received regular medical care and practiced other relaxation techniques. Also, the TM technique does reduce the risk factors for heart disease and stroke.

The Transcendental Meditation technique is a very simple mental technique, and when practiced regularly, it is associated with a decrease in blood pressure and improved neurophysiological integration and endocrine integration; therefore, it is a process in which you can decrease high blood pressure, decrease atherosclerosis, and at the same time become more awake, alert, bright and happy.

Related articles:

∙ Research shows significant drop in blood pressure soon after learning Transcendental Meditation
∙ Medical experts explain how Transcendental Meditation reduces blood pressure
∙ Physiological changes distinguish Transcendental Meditation from other meditation practices
∙ Transcendental Meditation promotes experience of a fourth major state of consciousness

Click here for more about Transcendental Meditation and stroke, including related research showing the effects of the technique in reducing cardiovascular disease factors, including: atherosclerosis/stroke; blood pressure in different age groups and at-risk populations; congestive heart failure; metabolic syndrome/pre-diabetes; and cholesterol and free radicals.

*César Molina, M.D., F.A.C.C., is Medical Director of the South Asian Heart Center at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, CA. He is a graduate of Yale University School of Medicine and a fellow of the American College of Cardiology. Dr. Molina has appeared in the international edition of CNN discussing the benefits of diet and exercise in the treatment and prevention of coronary heart disease.

** Robert Schneider, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.A.B.M.R., has been awarded more than $20 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for his pioneering research on natural approaches to heart disease. Dr. Schneider is the author of Total Heart Health and 100 medical research articles, and he has been featured in more than 1,000 media reports, including CNN Headline News, The New York Times, and Time magazine.

© Copyright 2011 American Association of Physicians Practicing the Transcendental Meditation Technique

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