A study led by a scientist at the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) suggests that incorporating yoga therapy as a complementary treatment for heart failure and heart diseases can be advantageous. Heart failure, a type of cardiovascular disease, results from either weakened or stiffened heart muscles, often causing fluid buildup, breathlessness, and related complications.
Ajit Singh, a research scientist at ICMR’s Kasturba Medical College & Hospital in Karnataka, conducted this study on 75 patients aged 30 to 75 years at a tertiary care center in southern India. As the principal author, Singh asserted that yoga therapy has the potential to enhance the physical well-being and left ventricular function of heart failure patients who are already following optimal medical therapy as per guidelines.
These findings will be presented at the American College of Cardiology Asia 2023 conference scheduled from September 29-30 in Manila.
All patients had undergone coronary intervention, revascularization, or device therapy within the previous six months to one year, with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of more than 45 percent. The intervention group, comprising 35 participants, received yoga therapy in addition to guideline-directed medical therapy. The non-interventional group, with 40 participants, continued with standard guideline-directed medical therapy.
Echocardiographic parameters were analyzed at various follow-ups to assess the impact of yoga therapy on heart failure patients.
Participants in the yoga group received instruction in selected yoga therapy practices like pranayama, meditation, and relaxation techniques. Each session lasted approximately 60 minutes, and participants were supervised at the training center for one week before being encouraged to continue self-administered yoga at home.
Researchers assessed quality of life improvements using the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire and observed that participants in the yoga group experienced enhancements in endurance, strength, balance, symptom stability, and overall quality of life. However, there was no observed improvement in social and environmental health.
Singh’s findings indicate that the inclusion of yoga therapy alongside conventional medical treatment for heart failure results in enhanced left ventricular systolic function and an improved quality of life for patients. He also observed positive changes in systolic blood pressure and heart rate when compared to patients relying solely on medication.
