AHA: Meditation Might Lower Cardiovascular Risk

By Amy Orciari Herman

Edited by André Sofair, MD, MPH, and William E. Chavey, MD, MS

Meditation might reduce cardiovascular risk, although the quality of the evidence is modest, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association.

Accordingly, the AHA says that given meditation's low risks and costs, patients may consider it as an adjunct to guideline-directed risk-reduction strategies. Here are some of the group's findings, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association:

• For primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, two short-term studies "report surprising mortality reductions" with meditation, but the findings require confirmation in larger studies.

• For prevention of recurrent CV events, the data "can best be characterized as generally of modest quality and as suggesting, but not definitely establishing, benefit."

• Observational studies suggest lasting effects on brain physiology and anatomy.

• Many studies suggest a benefit on psychological and psychosocial outcomes.

• The effect on blood pressure "varies widely" across studies.

• Data from some randomized trials indicate a benefit in smoking cessation.