A study suggests that the practice of yoga may help control high blood pressure, according to a story in U.S. News and World Report.
Although the study did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship between yoga and lower blood pressure, the story quotes a cardiologist as saying that the findings suggest “yoga would be a useful adjunct in the lowering of blood pressure in certain populations.”
That could be valuable for patients at risk, especially since other studies have raised some red flags about certain medications prescribed for high blood pressure (also known as hypertension).
For example, two clinical drug trials have prompted a U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigation into whether the blood pressure drug Benicar increases the risk of heart-related deaths. A recent Mayo Clinic report has also linked Benicar to stomach problems including chronic diarrhea, vomiting, intestinal inflammation and weight loss.
The yoga study’s findings were presented at the annual scientific meeting of the American Society of Hypertension in San Francisco, but not yet published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Researchers tracked 58 women and men between the ages of 38 to 62 for six months. They concluded that doing yoga two to three times a week was associated with an average drop in blood pressure readings from 133/80 to 130/77.
In an unexpected development, they also found that doing yoga in tandem with a special diet did not outperform doing yoga alone.
You should consult with a doctor if you have any ongoing symptoms or health concerns, and before making any changes in medication. You should also consult with a lawyer if you have injuries connected with Benicar.