Effect of  yoga practices on  serum cortisol level & cardiovascular  parameters in hyper–reactors to cold pressor test in young healthy medical students

Dr. Gajanan Govind Potey; Mr. Rahul Verma; Dr. Chanda Rajak; Dr S.P. Mahapatra

Volume : V, Issue : IV, April - 2016

Effect of yoga practices on serum cortisol level & cardiovascular parameters in hyper–reactors to cold pressor test in young healthy medical students

Dr. Gajanan Govind Potey, Mr. Rahul Verma, Dr. Chanda Rajak, Dr S. P. Mahapatra

Abstract :

Background: Stress, anxiety and depression are known to be significant factors in the onset and progression of a wide spectrum of illness ranging from cardiovascular diseases, asthma, cancer, HIV–infection & affects multiple systems of body. Yoga practices are time–honored stress management/health promotion techniques whose health benefits are being validated by modern medical science. Independent research has shown that significantly reduced levels of cortisol reduce the level of stress, relieve anxiety, depression, increase anti – oxidant production, enhance ain function, enhance health well – being and peace of mind.[ 1 ] Aims & objectives: The aim of present study was to study the �Effect of Yoga ( yogic exercises, pranayama and meditation) on serum cortisol and hyper–reactivity to cold pressor test in young healthy medical students� Material and method: The present study included 60 male medical students of first M.B.B.S. of 18 to 25 years of age. After recording the basal serum cortisol level, blood pressure and pulse rate, the cardiovascular reactivity of all the 60 students was measured by application of cold pressor test devised by Hines & Brown(1934).30 were found to be hyper reactor to this test. These hyper reactors under went yogic exercises, pranayam and meditation for the duration of 12 weeks. After the yogic training period the serum cortisol, level, blood pressure and pulse rate was again measured which was found to be significantly reduced. Result: Regular practice of yoga is effective in reducing the stress level as indicated by reduction in the serum cortisol level and cardiovascular hyper reactivity. Conclusion: Modern man is the victim of stress and stress related disorders which threaten to disrupt his life totally. Being holistic in its approach, yoga offers the best way out of this �whirlpool of stresses. Yogic lifestyle, yogic diet, yogic attitudes and various yogic practices help man to strengthen his body and mind and develop positive health, enabling him to withstand stress by normalizing the perception of stress, optimizing the reaction to it and by effectively releasing the pent–up stress through various yogic practices. [2]