Abstract

EFFECT OF YOGA ON CARDIOVASCULAR PARAMETERS IN HYPER REACTORS TO COLD PRESSOR TEST IN YOUNG HEALTHY MEDICAL STUDENTS

Awasthi Prateek Prabhaker, Rajak Chanda*, Rampalliwar S., Pathak Santosh Kumar, Namdeo D. P. and Kaurav Pavan Pratap Singh

ABSTRACT

Background: Stress is a negative consequence of modern living. In an age of highly dynamic and competitive world, man is exposed to all kinds of stressors that can affect him on all realms of life. It is a silent killer and prolonged exposure to stress may exert harmful effects on physical, psychological and behavioral well-being of an individual. Stress-related disorders evolve gradually and effects mainly autonomic, cardiovascular, respiratory and immune systems. Objective: The aim of present study was to investigate whether regular practice of Yoga for six months can reduce cardiovascular reactivity induced by cold pressor test. Material and method: The present study included 100 medical students of first M.B.B.S. of 18 to 25years of age. After recording the basal cardiovascular parameters of all the 100 students, reactivity to cold pressor was measured by application of cold pressor test devised by Hines & Brown (1936). 70 subjects were found to be hyper reactor to this test. These hyper reactors underwent Yogic exercises, Bhastrika and Anulom-vilom Pranayama and meditation 30 minutes daily for the duration of 24 weeks. Before and after the yogic training period the SBP, DBP and PR was measured which was found to be significantly improved, Statistically by using student “t‟ test. Result: Regular practice of yoga for 6 months significantly improved the cardiovascular reactivity induced due to stress. Conclusion: We concluded that regular practice of yoga for six months decreases the cardiovascular parameter reactivity viz. mean SBP, mean DBP and mean PR.

Keywords: Stress, Yoga, Cold pressor test, Cardiovascular Parameters, SBP, DBP and PR.