Abstract

EFFECT OF YOGIC PRANAYAMAS AND MEDITATION ON LIPID PROFILE AND PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTS IN YOUNG HEALTHY MEDICAL STUDENTS

Awasthi Prateek Prabhaker, Rajak Chanda*, Pathak Santosh Kumar, Arjariya Ravikant and Namdeo D.P. and Kaurav Pavan Pratap

ABSTRACT

Background: In an age of highly dynamic and competitive world, medical students are exposed to all kinds of stressors that can affect him on all realms of life.Prolonged exposure to stress may exert harmful effects on well-being of the students. These stressful conditions evolve gradually and persists throughout curriculumand effects various autonomic, respiratory and immune systems. Objective: The aim of present study was to investigate whether regular practice of yogic pranayamas and meditation for six months can improve the lipid profile and pulmonary function status which found to be de-arranged due to different stressors in apparently young healthy medical students. Material and method: The present study included 50 medical students of 18 to 25years. After performing spirometry of all the 50 students, the lipid profiling was done .These students underwent Bhastrika and Anulom-vilom Pranayama and meditation 30 minutes daily for the duration of 24 weeks.Before and after the yogic training period the FEV1, FVC and MVV was found to be significantly improved while Total Cholesterol and LDL were reduced and HDL was significantly increased measured which Statistically by using student “t‟ test. Result: Regular practice of pranayamas and meditation for 6 months significantly improved the lipid profiling and functional pulmonary status deranged due to stress. Conclusion: We concluded that regular practice of yoga for six months improves the pulmonary function and lipid profile derangement induced due to stress.

Keywords: Pranayama, Meditation, Lipid Profile, Pulmonary Function, Medical Students.