Yoga can make life better for people with abnormal heart rhythm

The researchers examined the effects of yoga on patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) in which faulty electrical signals and rapid heart rate begin suddenly and then stop on their own.

"Many patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) can't live their lives as they want to -- they refuse dinners with friends, concerts and travelling - because they are afraid of an AF episode occurring," said one of the researchers Maria Wahlstrom from Sophiahemmet University in Sweden.

"AF episodes are accompanied by chest pain, dyspnoea and dizziness," added Wahlstrom in the study published in the European journal of cardiovascular nursing.

These symptoms are unpleasant and patients feel anxious, worried and stressed that an AF episode would occur. 

AF is the most common cardiac rhythm disorder and has no cure, the researches pointed out.

Patients with paroxysmal AF experience episodes of AF usually lasting less than 48 hours and stop by themselves, although in some patients they can last up to seven days. 

The team included 80 patients with paroxysmal AF who were randomised to yoga or a control group that did not do yoga. 

Yoga was performed for one hour, once a week, for 12 weeks in the hospital with an experienced instructor, which included light movements, deep breathing and meditation.

After 12 weeks, the yoga group had higher "SF-36" mental health scores, lower heart rate and lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure than the control group.

"We found that patients who did yoga had a better quality of life, lower heart rate and lower blood pressure than patients who did not do yoga. The breathing and movement may have beneficial effects on blood pressure," Wahlstrom stated.

"Patients in the yoga group said it felt good to let go of their thoughts and just be inside themselves for awhile," Wahlstrom noted.