Effect of yoga on anxiety score and resting heart rate in young healthy individuals.

ABSTRACT

Background: Modern age is the age of ‘anxiety and stress’, which is posing a great challenge to the health of society. Stresses of modern life precipitate various cardiovascular and other disorders by distorting basic neuroendocrine mechanism and poses risk to cardiovascular system. Objectives: The objectives for the study were to assess effect of yoga practices on anxiety score (using Taylor’s manifest anxiety scale) and resting heart rate. Methods: Study group included subjects who participated in yoga practices for a period of 3 months. Control group included subjects who did not perform yoga or any exercise. Anxiety score and resting heart rate were recorded in both the groups before start of study and at end of the study. Anxiety score was estimated with the help of Taylor’s manifest anxiety scale questionnaire and resting heart rate was estimated by using electrocardiogram (ECG). Collected data was analysed using Mann Whitney test and paired ‘t’test. Results: At the end of three months statistically significant decrease in anxiety score and resting heart rate was observed in the study group. Whereas, there was no statistically significant difference in anxiety score and resting heart rate of control group. Conclusion& Interpretation: It is evident from the study that yoga practices of even short duration (3 months) can reduce anxiety status and decrease resting heart rate. This probably indicates that parasympathetic activity was increased while sympathetic activity was decreased with yoga practices in young subjects.