Thoughts modulate the expression of inflammatory genes and may improve the coronary blood flow in patients after a myocardial infarction.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mental stress is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Meditation and music listening are two techniques that are able to counteract it through the activation of specific brain areas, eliciting the so-called Relaxing Response (RR). Epidemiological evidence reveals that the RR practice has a beneficial prognostic impact on patients after myocardial infarction. We aimed to study the possible molecular mechanisms of RR underlying these findings.

Methods

We enrolled 30 consecutive patients after myocardial infarction and 10 healthy controls. 10 patients were taught to meditate, 10 to appreciate music and 10 did not carry out any intervention and served as controls. After training, and after 60 days of RR practice, we studied the individual variation

SUBMITTER: Dal Lin C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5755999 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature