Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease in Adolescents and Adults through the Transcendental Meditation(®) Program: A Research Review Update

Abstract

The pathogenesis and progression of cardiovascular diseases are thought to be exacerbated by stress. Basic research indicates that the Transcendental Meditation(®) technique produces acute and longitudinal reductions in sympathetic tone and stress reactivity. In adolescents at risk for hypertension, the technique has been found to reduce resting and ambulatory blood pressure, left ventricular mass, cardiovascular reactivity, and to improve school behavior. Research on adults with mild or moderate essential hypertension has reported decreased blood pressure and reduced use of anti-hypertensive medication. The technique has also been reported to decrease symptoms of angina pectoris and carotid atherosclerosis, to reduce cardiovascular risk factors, including alcohol and tobacco use, to markedly reduce medical care utilization for cardiovascular diseases, and to significantly decrease cardiovascular and all-cause morbidity and mortality. These findings have important implications for inclusion of the Transcendental Meditation program in efforts to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases and their clinical consequences.(®)Transcendental Meditation and TM are trademarks registered in the US. Patent and Trademark Office, licensed to Maharishi Vedic Education Development Corporation and are used with permission.

Fig. 1. Treatment and prevention of CVD through stress reduction

A model of the Transcendental Meditation^® (TM) program’s effects on hypertension and CVD as reviewed in this paper is presented. Chronic environmental and psychosocial stresses, and genetic predisposition, contribute to an increase in acute stress-induced SNS arousal, resulting in increased neurohormonal activity and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis dysregulation. Such changes result in greater BP responsivity to the stress, vasoconstriction and increased BP levels. Reduction of acute and chronic stress via TM practice reduces SNS activity resulting in reduced BP reactivity to acute stress. Over time, due to decreased CV reactivity to acute events, there is reduced load upon the heart, resulting in decreased BP levels, thereby helping to prevent EH and CVD.