Yoga halves irregular-heartbeat episodes

Don’t you just love seeing more scientific evidence from the medical establishment about how yoga makes your heartbeats healthier?

Yoga reduced the need for surgery, medicine with side effects for Atrial Fibrillation

Yoga,  which we already know and have experience is proven to lower high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, can cut in half the risk of a common and potentially dangerous irregular heartbeat, according to a U.S. study released last week by Dr. Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy, an associate professor with the University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas, who led the study.

The study was the first to examine the benefits of yoga on atrial fibrillation – that is a leading cause of stroke and is most common in the elderly.

“These findings are important because many of the current  treatment strategies for atrial fibrillation include invasive expensive procedures or medications with undesirable side effects,” said Lakkireddy.

He presented his research at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology being held in New Orleans.

On average, yoga halved episodes of the irregular heartbeat, while also dramatically reducing depression and anxiety and improving in  flexibility, physical functioning, vitality, social functioning and mental health, the research found.

How has your health, mood or functioning improved since you started a regular practice?