Yoga And Meditation For Heart Patient After Angiography

By Patricia | October 24, 2008
Yoga Poses After Angiography

Yoga is a lifestyle practice that by its very nature can prove to be very beneficial to heart patients. The suffering of the heart muscles is all due to a short supply of oxygen. It occurs when arteries get constricted by plaque, the passage gets restricted and the arteries get thicker and harder. This restricts the flow of healthy blood to the heart. An angiography is done to measure the blood flow of and blood pressure in the heart chambers and see if the coronary arteries are blocked.

There are several causes of heart problems for instance, hypertension, high cholesterol, smoking, or an unhealthy lifestyle. Yoga is especially useful in reducing stress, one of the major reasons of heart disease. It aims at balancing and harmonizing the body and the world around it so as to create strength and power physically and mentally. This helps a person, especially a heart patient who might have lost confidence in his abilities and tends to under utilize his body. Yoga helps a person who has become afraid to injure or strain his body to get back the energy, strength and confidence to lead a normal life.

Yoga is a combination of several useful techniques. It includes yoga postures, stretching and breathing exercises and meditation. It is a gentle exercise routine that is non-competitive, non-athletic and can be designed to suit your needs. If you are new to yoga, it is better to consult a yoga expert to suggest the poses that will make your heart and body stronger.

It's very important to have good blood circulation for a heart patient. In several standing poses in yoga like the Mountain Pose, the lateral wall of the heart is stretched and toned so that there is a healthy blood flow on the walls. In inverted poses the blood flow to the brain improves. In the horizontal poses the body gets complete rest and the heart and lungs are rested and well ventilated. In the bending poses, there is an improved blood supply to the myocardium, and this tones up the cardiac muscle.

There are also poses that reduce blood pressure, for instance, the Easy Pose is a classic meditative pose that straightens the spine, slows down metabolism and promotes inner tranquility. Shoulder stretches reduce tension in the shoulders. Other poses like the locust, lotus, cow, camel poses and the leg raises and forward bends, all help in improving circulation and strengthening the inner and outer body. There are poses that aid relaxation, for example, in the Corpse pose, you lie still and inhale and exhale rhythmically, while concentrating on the flow of your breath. As you stay silent, this practice brings tranquility and rest, which are healing to the heart.

There are also breathing exercises that cleanse your system of toxins and improve circulation for example in one of the exercises, one breathes rapidly, while controlling movements of the diaphragm. This exercises the entire respiratory system forcing higher oxygen absorption in a short time, and takes richer blood to cardiovascular muscles.

Meditation gives much needed rest to the mind and body. Regular practice makes the mind alert, still, aware and focused. It gives mental clarity and health, and is particularly useful for heart patients to lead a stress free life.

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