Common Heart Rhythm Problems can be Reduced with Yoga

A latest finding from the University of Kansas Medical Center suggests that those who are victims of common heart rhythm problem can include mild yoga along with their medication in order to decrease the symptoms of common heart rhythm problem.

This is the first study that emphasizes the effect of yoga on heart condition. Though the finding demands more research, it shows promising results. 

Adults who are above age 75 are more prone to suffer from 'Atrial Fibrillation' (AF), a common heart rhythm disturbance. It mostly occurs in those who are victims of high blood pressure or artherosclerosis. The blood that collects in the upper chamber of the heart called atria is not pumped into the lower chambers, due to which the chambers don't function together. This multiplies the chances of stroke.

In order to control the heart's rhythm and rate, the patients are given drugs like aspirin to prevent the formation of blood clots. But according to the researchers, drugs are just sufficient enough to prevent or control this disorder.

The researchers conducted this study on 49 people who have been suffering from AF for the past 5 years. The heart symptoms, blood pressure and heart rate including anxiety, depression and general quality of life of these participants were carefully monitored by the researchers for three months.

In the second phase of the study, the same group of participants were sent for yoga classes for three months. The participants were kept on stable medication throughout the study.

On joining yoga classes, these participants had fewer symptoms of heart quivering. They reported an average of two episodes when compared to four in the initial three months that didn't include yoga.

One drawback in this study is it didn't have a control group that makes the finding less certain.

"Just doing yoga alone is not going to cut it," he was quoted as saying in Medical Xpress. "You still need to take the appropriate medications and follow your doctor's recommendations. But this suggests that yoga can be a fantastic adjunct."

The study details are published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.