Meditation is an ancient practice that calms the mind and reduces stress levels, and people who regularly meditate have a reduced risk of heart disease. If seniors want to boost their cardiovascular health, meditation is a simple and effective method.
An Important Component of Cardiovascular Risk Reduction
When devising a cardiovascular risk reduction plan, seniors can’t rely on meditation alone. Instead, it should be viewed as an essential component of a larger risk reduction strategy. When combined with a nutritious diet, regular exercise, and other healthy habits, meditation can significantly reduce the chances of cardiovascular events.
If your elderly loved one needs help maintaining healthy habits, consider hiring a professional elderly caregiver. Roseville families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide dedicated and compassionate in-home caregivers who are trained in our holistic Balanced Care Method, which was designed to encourage seniors to exercise often, eat nutritious foods, maintain strong social ties, and focus on other lifestyle factors that promote longevity.
The Physiological Impact of Meditation
When performed every day, meditation can have a physiological impact on the body. The breathing techniques alter brain activity, increase oxygen consumption, and normalize adrenaline levels. Meditation also lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and it normalizes the production of the stress hormone cortisol. When the body produces less cortisol, anxiety levels decrease. As high stress levels can trigger cardiovascular events, decreased anxiety is good for the heart.
Reducing the Factors Related to Heart Disease
The benefits of meditation are not just physiological. As the body starts to change in response to meditation, lifestyle changes often follow. People who regularly meditate sleep better, and they are less anxious and depressed. Meditation has even been known to help people stop smoking. As meditation mitigates these health issues, it wards off cardiovascular conditions.
Making healthy lifestyle choices is just one of the many ways seniors can reduce their heart disease risk and increase their overall quality of life. If your elderly loved one needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a trusted provider of Roseville home care. Services our caregivers provide include transportation to and from medical appointments and social events, nutritious meal preparation, assistance with daily exercise, and help with everyday tasks like bathing, grooming, and light housekeeping.
The Research
Several studies have been conducted on the link between meditation and cardiovascular health. Almost all of them conclude that meditation has some cardiovascular benefits, and none of them suggest meditation poses any health risks. In short, it’s a quick, free way to potentially boost heart health. One five-year study examined 201 people as they did 15 minutes of transcendental meditation every day. After the five years concluded, researchers found that the test subjects had reduced their risk of heart attack by nearly 50 percent. Researchers concluded this was due to lowered stress levels and blood pressure levels.
Getting Started with Meditation
In theory, meditation isn’t difficult. However, there are many different types, which can be confusing to people unfamiliar with the practice. All types of meditation provide similar cardiovascular benefits. Beginners should give each meditation style a try, then select the one that comes most naturally to them. Guided meditation uses mental images to induce relaxation. Transcendental meditation uses chanting and repetition to clear the mind. Mindfulness meditation emphasizes the importance of the present moment. For guided instruction, seniors can watch online videos, use apps like Calm and Headspace, or take a meditation class at a local yoga studio.
Seniors who need help with meditation or other daily tasks should consider professional in-home care. Whether your elderly loved one needs part-time assistance with basic household chores or you need a break from your caregiving duties, the Roseville respite care experts at Home Care Assistance are here to help. All of our respite care services are backed with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, there are no hidden fees in our contracts, and we never ask our clients to sign long-term contracts. To learn about our premier in-home care plans, call us at 916.226.3737 today.