"For black Americans suffering from heart disease meditation might help prevent heart attacks strokes and early death a small new study suggests. These benefits appear to be the results of meditations ability to lower blood pressure stress and anger all of which have been linked to increased cardiovascular risk researchers say. This is a whole new physiological effect on top of conventional treatment said lead researcher Dr. Robert Schneider director of the Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention in Fairfield Iowa. People can prevent heart disease reoccurrence using their own mindbody connection. People have this internal selfhealing ability.  An outside expert however said the study is too limited in size and scope to allow conclusions as to whether meditation really reduces risk of death or disease. The new study focused on Transcendental Meditation. Originally from India it is not associated with any particular religion or philosophy. It is thought to produce alpha brain waves that occur in deep relaxation. According to the Maharishi Foundation more than  million people worldwide practice this type of meditation.  The research focused on blacks because they are at a higher risk than whites of having heart attacks and strokes and dying from heart disease Schneider said. He added however that meditation would work as well among whites and other populations. Other studies have been done among whites and the results are similar he said. The report was published in the Nov.  issue of the journal Circulation Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. The study was sponsored by the Maharishi University of Management and funded by the U.S. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.  For the study Schneiders team randomly assigned  black Americans with heart disease either to a Transcendental Meditation stressreducing program or health education class about lifestyle modification in diet and exercise. Almost  percent of the participants were taking cholesterollowering drugs. Fortyone percent of the meditation group took aspirin as did  percent of the health education group  percent of the meditation group and  percent of the health education group smoked the researchers noted. Participants average bodymass index  a measurement of body fat based on height and weight  was  which is considered obese. Meditation consisted of sitting with eyes closed for about  minutes twice a day. The goal was to rest while remaining alert. After more than five years of followup the researchers found those who meditated saw significant reductions in blood pressure and anger compared to those receiving health education. In addition  people in the medication group had a heart attack or stroke or died compared with  in the health education group. Both groups increased exercise and drank less. For those who meditated there was a trend toward reduced smoking however this was not statistically significant.  Learning how to do Transcendental Meditation isnt inexpensive. An initial hour course runs about  when taught by nonprofit groups and there is continued lifetime followup Schneider said. And its not something you can learn by yourself. Youve got to have a teacher right there in front of you teaching according to experience he said. So its only learned live. Transcendental Meditation is not generally covered by health insurance he said. One of the reasons we did the study is because insurance and Medicare calls for citing evidence for whats to be reimbursed Schneider said. This study will lead toward reimbursement. Thats the whole idea. But a cardiology expert said that although the study adds to evidence supporting meditation it doesnt prove a causeandeffect relationship between the practice and better health outcomes. Transcendental Meditation has been reported to have health benefits and has been evaluated in a number of studies said Dr. Gregg Fonarow professor of cardiology at the University of California Los Angeles. Some studies have suggested favorable effects on cardiovascular risk factors whereas others studies have been inconclusive he said.  Even though the findings in this study were statistically significant the new study was too small to be conclusive Fonarow said.  In addition since this study was conducted at a single center and the primary change in heart attack stroke and death was not statistically significant without adjustment for other factors more studies and replication of these findings are needed he said.  More information For more information on heart disease visit the American Heart Association http_UCM__Article.jsp. SOURCES Robert Schneider M.D. director Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention Fairfield Iowa Gregg Fonarow M.D. professor cardiology University of California Los Angeles Nov.   Circulation Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes"