CardioExchange Archive

A study published online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggests that yoga may benefit people who have atrial fibrillation. The study, which the authors describe as “a small, proof-of-concept study,” is the first of its kind. The findings raise the possibility that yoga may reduce AF symptoms and arrhythmia burden. Other physiological and quality-of-life (QOL) benefits were also observed. But, the authors caution, large randomized trials will be required to confirm the finding.

Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy and colleagues studied 52 consecutive patients with persistent paroxysmal AF  and stable medical therapy at the University of Kansas Medical Center. After an initial 3-month control period, patients received three months of yoga training.

Compared with the end of the control period, the end of the yoga period showed a significant reduction in the number of symptomatic AF episodes, symptomatic non-AF episodes, and asymptomatic AF episodes. Some 22% of patients who had an AF episode in the control period had no episodes during the yoga period.

In addition, at the end of the yoga period there were significant improvements in several QOL measures (physical functioning, general health, vitality, social functioning, and mental health), as well as significant reductions in heart rate and blood pressure.

The authors wrote that their findings “underscore the therapeutic value of a low-cost noninvasive therapy such as yoga to effectively complement the conventional treatment strategies in improving AF patient care. Given the high prevalence of AF and costs of conventional therapy, the public health relevance of these findings is very pertinent.”

The authors speculated that yoga may achieve its effects via several mechanisms of action. Among others, yoga may decrease systemic stress and increase baseline parasympathetic tone. More generally, they write,

the benefit from the emotionally supportive atmosphere at yoga training centers, and the positive impact by the caring relationships, change in diet and life style modification associated with yoga practice on physiological parameters cannot be underestimated.