Staying focused on the here and now can be pretty challenging these days. It seems we’re all so quick to pull out our phones during any moment of downtime. But this knack of ours to always stay distracted could be seriously affecting us, especially during stressful and anxious times. This is where meditation comes in. It helps us stay grounded in the present and can significantly boost our mental and physical health. Let’s have a look at some perks of meditation.
1. Stress Reduction
We often underestimate the toll stress takes on our health. Chronic stress can mess up our sleep, cause us to overeat, and might even lead to thinning hair. In the long run, it can cause problems with our heart and our stomach. By lowering stress, we can really transform our lives.
Meditation comes to the rescue here. Stress cranks up our body’s levels of cortisol, a hormone that causes a slew of harmful effects, including body inflammation. Research shows that a type of meditation called mindfulness meditation, which is all about redirecting our focus to right now, can bring down this inflammation. So, if you’re feeling stressed, it might be worth giving meditation a try.
2. Pain Management
Living with chronic pain is a reality for over 50 million Americans. Folks managing constant pain know how tough this makes even basic daily jobs.
With worries about addiction, doctors aren’t prescribing opiate-based painkillers as much as they used to. They’re looking to alternatives like cognitive behavioral therapy, acupuncture, physical therapy, and increasingly meditation. Research suggests meditation can improve the pain tolerance of patients and might even promise short-term lower back pain relief. But before you incorporate meditation into your pain regimen, a chat with your doc is crucial.
3. Fending Off Depression
Depression can hamper our quality of life. The struggle to enjoy things one used to do alone can make it tough to find a sense of purpose.
Meditation is a formidable foe to anxiety and stress, which can spark depression. These are usually driven by negative thoughts about oneself and the struggle to see brighter days. Mindfulness meditation can help nip these negative thoughts in the bud, by steering our minds towards the present.
4. Lowering Blood Pressure
Heart disease heralds premature deaths worldwide. All of us could do with paying a bit more attention to our heart.
Cutting down our blood pressure is a strong way to secure long-term heart health. High blood pressure makes the heart pump harder, which can eventually cause it to misfunction. Over time, it also narrows arteries, increasing risks of a heart attack or stroke.
Here too, meditation along with a healthy diet can be a lifeline. Studies show both transcendental meditation and mindfulness meditation can bring down blood pressure. They do this by prompting relaxation in the brain, leading to lower blood pressure, a decrease in inflammation, and widened arteries.
Starting with meditation has never been easier. Take a look at some online meditation tutorial videos, and you’ll be good to go in no time!
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General
Tags
Benefits, Meditation, Mental Health, Physical Health
