Benefits of Meditation for Managing High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure or hypertension, is an increasing problem these days. It raises the risk of heart attack and stroke. To avoid such complications, it is important to your keep blood pressure levels in control. Some of the ways in which you can lower your blood pressure are:

• Maintaining a healthy weight

• Exercising daily

• Avoiding smoke and alcohol

• Reducing intake of caffeine

• Limiting the intake of salt

Role of alternative therapies in hypertension

There are a few alternative therapies that have proven to lower high blood pressure. One such therapy is meditation. Meditation promotes relaxation, it improves the blood flow in arteries, reduces anxiety and depression. Some other benefits of meditation are:

• Manages blood pressure

• Boosts immunity

• Helps in stress management

• Reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke

• Prevents chronic kidney disease

How meditation helps in reducing blood pressure?

Meditation can help in lowering your blood pressure in the following ways:

• Regulates the activity of the autonomic nervous system which regulates blood pressure

• Narrows the blood vessels in response to stress

• Increases activity in the parasympathetic nervous system

• Relaxes and widens the blood vessels

There are many studies that prove that practicing meditation regularly can significantly reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

How to practice meditation?

Meditation is about coordination of mind and body. You should focus on breathing, it helps in relaxing your mind, improves tranquility and reduces stress. Here are a few steps that will help you in practicing meditation:

• You need a comfortable and quiet place

• Sit in a comfortable position, with spine and shoulder straight

• Close your eyes and relax your body, starting from the brain to toes

• Keep all your thoughts aside and focus on breathing

Meditation can improve your blood pressure levels but it is also important to stick to your medicines and monitor your blood pressure levels, to avoid complications.