Is yoga a good way to lower blood pressure?

Is yoga a good way to lower blood pressure?

Last year, the American Heart Association said in a report on high blood pressure, or high blood pressure, that there was no definitive evidence. However, the report failed to conclusively conclude that this was not the case.

The attitude seemed to be that there simply didn't seem to be any reliable studies done on the topic.

The study wasn't actually specifically focused on the question of yoga itself as a way to lower blood pressure, but rather looked at various "alternative" methods of treating high blood pressure. While the study did not generate its own data through testing, it instead searched through large amounts of data and reached its conclusions based on the results of several other studies.

This should not be taken as a specific denunciation of yoga as a blood pressure-lowering tactic in itself.

Here is my unscientific take on the subject.

It has long been recognized that regular, moderate exercise can help lower blood pressure. Yoga is a form of exercise and, when done correctly and regularly, produces at least the same results as other forms of exercise.

These benefits include better functioning of all parts of the body, the tendency to indulge in additional health-promoting activities (proper nutrition, rest and willingness to participate in other physical activities).

If someone merely performs a basic yoga routine two or three times a week without guidance, as with other forms of exercise, they will naturally get a result that is related to the effort they put in. However, when someone really takes their yoga practice to heart, they will begin to experience physical results on a higher level. Additionally, diving deeper into a yoga practice tends to lead to other lifestyle changes that can provide health benefits, including reducing high blood pressure.

Lifestyle changes and benefits commonly associated with yoga include better nutrition, reduced stress, and a meditative state.

Again, regular practice of yoga produces a meditative state and often leads to the practice of yoga itself, which has been linked to less stress and lower blood pressure. Yoga and meditation have been shown to reduce stress, which itself can help lower blood pressure.

Yoga as an exercise, along with proper nutrition, can also help with weight loss or at least weight management, and maintaining a healthy weight can also help keep blood pressure at lower levels.

Although there doesn't seem to be any direct evidence that yoga is a good way to manage high blood pressure, it's worth thinking about the full package of health benefits of a regular yoga practice. Of course, in an area as important and potentially dangerous as high blood pressure, you should consult medical experts before relying on an alternative method to keep this important measurement under control.

Inspired by Donovan Baldwin