It is common knowledge that stress is the biggest risk factor for a heart attack. Unfortunately, many do not realise, and do not admit that they are stressed. But a body check can reveal otherwise. The most common symptoms of stress are clenched hands, tight jaw, furrowed brows and lifted shoulders.
Stress does not make only the outer body tense but the inner parts too. Blood vessels constrict and tighten, which in turn can become hard and rigid with time. The stiffened arterial walls become amenable to tears, and the body tries to cover a tear with plaque. More tears appear and more plaque is formed, and one day, a piece of the plaque gets dislodged, and travelling to the heart blocks the passage. The blood supply to this vital organ is cut off, and a heart attack occurs.
The surest way to save the cardio-vascular system from damage, is to release the stress thoroughly on a regular basis so that the blood vessels remain pliable with smooth arterial walls. Contrary to popular belief, recreational activities do not de-stress the system effectively. One needs a special technique to achieve that, and Meditation followed by yoganidra is the best means.It has been seen that, lactic acid, a stress hormone is eliminated from the body three times faster during meditation than during deep sleep.
It is important to practice a form of meditation suiting one's age, inclination, and body condition. Mantra repetition is an easy form that suits everybody. Take any mantra you like and repeat it audibly or mentally for 20-25 minutes. You need not concentrate on the mantra, but try to be aware of it throughout the practice. You may repeat the process 2-3 times during the day. The beauty of mantra meditation is that, it does not require any particular posture. It can be done even while walking, but that is not advisable as it can distract the mind. To save time, you can practice it while commuting, provided you are not driving yourself.
My book 'YOGA FOR A HEALTHY HEART' contains more on heart health & how to normalise high blood-pressure in a week
