YOGIC EXERCISE- ITS EFFECT ON BLOOD PRESSURE AND DEPRESSION SCORE IN MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Objective: 1. To study the effect of yoga on blood pressure 2. To study the effect of yoga on Beck's depression score Design and method: Study was conducted on 200 patients randomized into test group (n=100), subjected to conventional treatment and yoga and control group (n=100),subjected to conventional treatment. It was conducted on patients diagnosed as myocardial infarction aged >18 years and patient's consent. Patients with hemodynamic instability, heart failure, pregnancy, practiced yoga, arrhythmia, pacemaker, autonomic neuropathy and musculoskeletal disease were excluded. Initially, assessment of clinical, biochemical parameters and routine investigations were performed. Blood pressure was noted and grading of hypertension was done. Beck's depression score was calculated by filling a questionnaire. Yoga was started on 4th day after MI and were encouraged to perform 10 minutes of pranayam, 15 minutes of shavasan and 15 minutes of transcendental meditation. Follow up after 18 weeks for assessment of blood pressure & depression score was done. The primary outcome included change in blood pressure from baseline to end of study period and secondary outcome included change in BDI score. Results: After 18 weeks of intervention, a significant improvement (p=0.001)was seen for systolic as well as diastolic blood pressure in yoga as well as control group. A significant improvement was also noted for BDI score (p=0.001) among the yoga group as well as control group. A statistically significant improvement in control group was seen for systolic blood pressure when compared to the yoga group (p=0.01) when both groups were compared after 18 weeks. An improvement was seen for diastolic blood pressure (p=0.44) and BDI score (p=0.304) among yoga group in comparison to control group that was not statistically significant. Conclusions: It was concluded from the study that when systolic blood pressure was compared between yoga and control group after 6 weeks, there was significant decrease among the controls. Rather, decrease was seen for diastolic blood pressure and BDI score among the yoga group but was not statistically significant. Multi-center trials are needed with more sample size to ascertain the effect of yoga.