Effect of heartfulness meditation on perceived stress and cognition in hypertensive patients

Abstract

The environmental conditions and demands (stressors) those beyond an individual’s perceived ability to cope with the stress experienced and this may also further lead to psychological or physical health complications (Wolf OT et al., 2002). In the present scenario researchers have increased their focus the relationship with stress and cognition. Now it is well established that chronic stress has a negative impact on cognition. It has been learnt that stress leads to the cellular changes in hippocampus wherein a part of the limbic system which is very important for memory processes is affected. It is learnt that the most likely cause for hypertension is emotional stress and anxiety. Hypertension may further become the route cause for cardiovascular disorders (Alderson A L et al., 2009). Heartfulness meditation would be one of the meditation techniques when practiced regularly will have magical effects on an individual with sedentary life style full of stress and anxiety (Littleton, A. C et al., 1981). The studies have proved that heartfulness meditation has a positive role in reducing stress and preventing the individuals from greater health complications like anxiety, depression and physical ill health. As it is studied that stress has an effect on cognition also, in the present study we tried to learn the effect of heartfulness meditation on perceived stress and cognition in the patients with hypertension.