Handbook of Research on Evidence-Based Perspectives on the Psychophysiology of Yoga and Its Applications, 2021
Meditation should not be considered a simple activity that is performed with focused attention; t... more Meditation should not be considered a simple activity that is performed with focused attention; this is concentration. When practicing concentration correctly, with a good “anchor” for attention, a specific state of mind takes place, in which logic relaxation happens, and there is a relative freedom from self-identification. Such states of mind are to be experienced and cannot be practiced; thus, meditation techniques (concentrations) are the means to reach this goal. Those who achieve such a state experience positive neurophysiological effects, which have been studied for decades, such as increased functionality and connectivity of the brain, and also increased gray matter volume in specific cortical areas, whether in the young or in the elderly. Meditation has, thus, a proven potential role to help one maintain a healthy cognition and should be included in daily life routines of everybody who wishes for it.
Objective: To study the acute aftereffects of exercise and relaxation, performed alone and in com... more Objective: To study the acute aftereffects of exercise and relaxation, performed alone and in combination, on blood pressure (BP) measured at baseline and during stressful conditions. Design: Clinical trial with comparison of groups and repeated measures in each group.
Post-exercise hypotension has been extensively described under laboratory conditions. However, st... more Post-exercise hypotension has been extensively described under laboratory conditions. However, studies investigating the persistence of this post-exercise decrease in blood pressure for longer periods have produced controversial results. The present investigation was conducted to verify the effect of a single bout of exercise on ambulatory blood pressure and to identify potential factors that might influence this post-exercise ambulatory blood pressure fall. The study was a randomized controlled clinical trial. Thirty normotensive and 23 hypertensive subjects were submitted to two ambulatory blood pressure monitorings (using the SpaceLabs 90207, SpaceLabs, Redmond, Washington, USA), which were performed after 45min of seated rest (control session) or cycling exercise at 50% peak oxygen uptake (exercise session). Normotensive subjects demonstrated a lower 24h blood pressure level in the exercise session. Hypertensive patients showed no significant difference in ambulatory blood pressure level between the two experimental sessions. Further data analysis revealed that approximately 65% of the subjects in both groups experienced a fall in blood pressure after exercise. Moreover, in the normotensive subjects, this blood pressure fall was significantly and positively correlated with clinic and ambulatory blood pressure, and negatively correlated with weight and body mass index. The blood pressure response to exercise was also greater in women. In the hypertensive patients, the post-exercise blood pressure decrease was significantly and positively correlated with clinic and ambulatory blood pressure as well as with the peak oxygen uptake, and negatively correlated with age and body mass index. The post-exercise ambulatory blood pressure fall observed in normotensive and hypertensive humans depends on individual characteristics. Moreover, in both normotensive and hypertensive humans, post-exercise ambulatory hypotension is greater in subjects with a higher initial blood pressure level.
Handbook of Research on Evidence-Based Perspectives on the Psychophysiology of Yoga and Its Applications, 2021
Meditation should not be considered a simple activity that is performed with focused attention; t... more Meditation should not be considered a simple activity that is performed with focused attention; this is concentration. When practicing concentration correctly, with a good “anchor” for attention, a specific state of mind takes place, in which logic relaxation happens, and there is a relative freedom from self-identification. Such states of mind are to be experienced and cannot be practiced; thus, meditation techniques (concentrations) are the means to reach this goal. Those who achieve such a state experience positive neurophysiological effects, which have been studied for decades, such as increased functionality and connectivity of the brain, and also increased gray matter volume in specific cortical areas, whether in the young or in the elderly. Meditation has, thus, a proven potential role to help one maintain a healthy cognition and should be included in daily life routines of everybody who wishes for it.
Objective: To study the acute aftereffects of exercise and relaxation, performed alone and in com... more Objective: To study the acute aftereffects of exercise and relaxation, performed alone and in combination, on blood pressure (BP) measured at baseline and during stressful conditions. Design: Clinical trial with comparison of groups and repeated measures in each group.
Post-exercise hypotension has been extensively described under laboratory conditions. However, st... more Post-exercise hypotension has been extensively described under laboratory conditions. However, studies investigating the persistence of this post-exercise decrease in blood pressure for longer periods have produced controversial results. The present investigation was conducted to verify the effect of a single bout of exercise on ambulatory blood pressure and to identify potential factors that might influence this post-exercise ambulatory blood pressure fall. The study was a randomized controlled clinical trial. Thirty normotensive and 23 hypertensive subjects were submitted to two ambulatory blood pressure monitorings (using the SpaceLabs 90207, SpaceLabs, Redmond, Washington, USA), which were performed after 45min of seated rest (control session) or cycling exercise at 50% peak oxygen uptake (exercise session). Normotensive subjects demonstrated a lower 24h blood pressure level in the exercise session. Hypertensive patients showed no significant difference in ambulatory blood pressure level between the two experimental sessions. Further data analysis revealed that approximately 65% of the subjects in both groups experienced a fall in blood pressure after exercise. Moreover, in the normotensive subjects, this blood pressure fall was significantly and positively correlated with clinic and ambulatory blood pressure, and negatively correlated with weight and body mass index. The blood pressure response to exercise was also greater in women. In the hypertensive patients, the post-exercise blood pressure decrease was significantly and positively correlated with clinic and ambulatory blood pressure as well as with the peak oxygen uptake, and negatively correlated with age and body mass index. The post-exercise ambulatory blood pressure fall observed in normotensive and hypertensive humans depends on individual characteristics. Moreover, in both normotensive and hypertensive humans, post-exercise ambulatory hypotension is greater in subjects with a higher initial blood pressure level.
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