Page 183 - Demo

181A study of 201 heart patients found that during an average 5.4-year follow-up, the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and deaths decreased by 48% (p = .025) in the patients who were randomly assigned to the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program, compared to the control subjects randomized to receive health-education classes instead of TM (left bar). On average, both the TM group and the HE groups practiced either TM or healthy life-style activities, respectively, about 8.5 times per week, which is 61% of the recommended twice-a-day practice for both programs.A high-adherence subgroup analysis was conducted on all 141 patients practicing TM or HE activities once a day or more. The high-adherence TM group had 66% fewer heart attacks, strokes, and deaths in the follow-up period than the high-adherence HE group (p=.003) (right bar).The study also found a signifi cant inverse correlation between regularity of TM home practice and reduction in heart attacks, strokes, and deaths (p = .04). This means that the more regularly a patient practiced TM, the greater the reduction of risk for future cardiac events.The TM group also showed a 24% risk reduction compared to the HE group in a composite measure of secondary end points, which included cardiovascular mortality, revascularizations, and cardiovascular hospitalizations; blood pressure; psychosocial stress factors; and lifestyle behaviors (p = 0.17). Compared to the HE group, the TM groups had reductions in systolic blood pressure (4.9 mm Hg; p = 0.01) and anger expression (p < 0.05 for all scales). Adherence with TM was associated with greater survival.Decreased Heart Attacks, Strokes, and Death0%-10%-20%-30%-40%-50%-60%-70%%u221248%%u221266%Regular TMvs. Regular HEAssigned to TMvs. Assigned to HEp < .003p < .025tm-026LIVE LONGER, BE HEALTHIERReference: Schneider, R. H., Grim, C. E., Rainforth, M. V., Kotchen, T., Nidich, S. I., Gaylord-King, C., Salerno, J. W., Kotchen, J. M., & Alexander, C. N. (2012). Stress reduction in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: Randomized, controlled trial of Transcendental Meditation and health education in Blacks. Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, 5(6), 750%u2013758.