The Connection Between Yoga and Heart Health
Written by: Maia Hernandez | Edited by: Nathan Hahn
Yoga, originating in India and composed between the 5th and 6th centuries BC, is an ancient tradition that is now a wellness practice known and practiced worldwide in many different forms (NIH, Hajar).
There are many health benefits to regularly practicing yoga, some of which are widely recognized—from overall mood improvement and reduced back pain to enhanced strength, balance, and flexibility.
One benefit that may be surprising to some is its vast positive influence on cardiovascular health. For instance, Hugh Calkins, M.D., the director of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Service at Johns Hopkins, has stated:
“…a large number of studies show that yoga benefits many aspects of cardiovascular health… There’s been a major shift in the last five years or so in the number of cardiologists and other professionals recognizing that these benefits are real.”
Primarily, yoga counteracts emotional stress levels that can cause spikes of hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline that cause narrowing of the arteries (blood vessels carrying oxygen-rich blood throughout the body) and thereby increase blood pressure. The act of deep breathing, which lowers these stress hormone levels, dilates arteries, and decreases blood pressure (Johns Hopkins Medicine).
Practicing yoga has also been shown to help lower blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood glucose levels, which are all contributing risk factors to cardiovascular disease when their measurements are abnormally high. These measures act systemically to increase cardiovascular disease in the body and can be managed through yoga practice.
In addition, a study has shown reduced frequency of atrial fibrillation episodes (where the upper chambers of the heart beat irregularly and rapidly, giving rise to abnormal heart rate) in patients who engage in slow-paced yoga classes twice a week. This costly heart condition affects two to three million people worldwide, and yoga provides a holistic and cost-effective method of managing it. However, longer-term follow-ups are necessary to prove any long-term health benefits (NIH, Deutsch et al.).
Yoga practice has also been linked to promoting the cessation of smoking, a large risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This association occurs through numerous pathways. Through an increased focus on mindfulness, yoga practice helps individuals to reduce symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, such as emotional reactivity and psychological distress, while also providing coping mechanisms for cravings. It also targets weight loss/maintenance concerns apparent in many individuals quitting smoking. These links have been explored and supported by the research article “Yoga as a Complementary Therapy for Smoking Cessation: Results From BreathEasy, a Randomized Clinical Trial” (NIH, Bock et al.).
CONCLUSION
Although the impact of yoga on cardiovascular health is still under study, there is promising evidence of its positive influence on the heart and overall health. While it is not a substitute for standard medical care for certain conditions, it provides a holistic and upstream approach to prevent or slow the worsening of medical conditions. The plethora of encouraging study results underscores yoga’s potential and highlights the need for further research on its wide-ranging health benefits.
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