Yoga has roots as an ancient mind-body practice that incorporates physical, mental and spiritual elements. Originating in India, yoga has been proven effective in numerous studies to improve cardiovascular risk factors, with a reduction in the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
When compared with no exercise, yoga was associated with significant improvement in each of the primary outcome risk factors measured:
- Body mass index (BMI) reduced by 0.77 kg/m2 (measured as a "mean difference")
- Systolic blood pressure reduced by 5.21 mm Hg
- Low-density (bad) lipoprotein cholesterol reduced by 12.14 mg/dl
- High-density (good) lipoprotein cholesterol increased by 3.20 mg/dl.
Significant changes were also observed in secondary endpoints:
- Body weight decreased by 2.32 kg
- Diastolic blood pressure reduced by 4.9 mm Hg
- Total cholesterol reduced by 18.48 mg/dl
- Heart rate dropped by 5.27 beats/min.
No improvements were found in parameters of diabetes (fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin).
Cardiovascular disease risk factor improvements in BMI, blood pressure and lipid levels were substantial when yoga was practiced in addition to medication. Meanwhile, in patients with existing coronary heart disease, yoga displayed a statistically significant benefit in lowering LDL cholesterol when added to statins and lipid-lowering drugs.
Medical News Today recently reported on a study claiming that performing a single yoga pose for 90 seconds at least 3 days a week could reduce spine curvature in patients with scoliosis.
