A study led by Rosalba Hernandez, a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (USA), revealed that maintaining psychological well-being alongside consistent positive practices helps rapidly enhance blood pressure readings and lower inflammatory markers within the body. Medical Xpress reported these findings on May 4th.
The research team conducted an analysis of data derived from 18 randomized controlled trials that incorporated both positive psychology methods and mindfulness exercises. These intervention programs involved between 50 and 200 adult participants, aged 50 to 65, who had been diagnosed with either hypertension or heart failure.
Hernandez stated, “In patient cohorts dealing with hypertension and post-acute coronary syndrome, eight-week programs centered on mindfulness resulted in a reduction of systolic blood pressure and a decrease in inflammation indicators such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and fibrinogen.”
According to the experts, a 12-week digital intervention successfully brought about a 7.6-point drop in systolic pressure. The investigators determined that the optimal therapeutic frequency involves daily engagement augmented by weekly sessions conducted over a two-to-three-month span.
Alyssa Vela, a co-author of the research and a professor at Northwestern University, emphasized that the study’s outcomes underscore the critical role of focusing on mental health for both preventing cardiovascular illnesses and improving their management.
The paper’s authors clarified that while a high frequency of sessions is necessary to achieve immediate physiological benefits, cementing lifestyle modifications for the long term may necessitate a less intense but more consistent regimen of monitoring.
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