Yoga helps ease heart rhythm disorder symptoms

Yoga helps ease heart rhythm disorder symptoms

© Romain Doucelin/Cover Images

The benefits of yoga are wide-ranging and well covered, and a new study has added to the body of research already out there.

Scientists from Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur, India, now have conclusive evidence that practicing yoga can help with the symptoms of atrial fibrillation, which include palpitations, racing or irregular pulse, shortness of breath, tiredness, chest pain, and dizziness.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder, and affects a quarter of middle-aged adults in Europe and the U.S.

As well as suffering with the above symptoms, it can also lead to strokes, a reduced quality of life and a higher risk of death.

In the new study, led by author Dr. Naresh Sen, the team looked at a group of 538 patients with atrial fibrillation. For the first 12 weeks, the group got on with their lives as normal. They were then instructed to attend a 30-minute yoga session every other day for 16 weeks. During this time, the group were also asked to practice the movements and breathing techniques at home every day.

Through diary entries and heart monitor data, it was found blood pressure was lowered and participants experienced on average seven less symptomatic episodes of atrial fibrillation.

"The symptoms of atrial fibrillation can be distressing. They come and go, causing many patients to feel anxious and limiting their ability to live a normal life," Dr. Sen said.

"Our study suggests that yoga has wide-ranging physical and mental health benefits for patients with atrial fibrillation and could be added on top of usual therapies."

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