Study of Autonomic Nervous Functions in People Practicing Yoga

Introduction=The stressful present day life leads to increased likelihood of lethal cardiovascular diseases and signs of either increased sympathetic or reduced vagal activity. Autonomic control of the heart plays an important role in cardiac mortality. Yoga exercises strengthen and increase tone of weak muscles and help with conscious control over autonomic functions of the body. Aims& objectives - To study and compare the effect of regular yoga (pranayamas& meditation). on the activity of autonomic nervous system. Material and Methods Fifty cases (volunteers) and 50 controls were studied with respect to their autonomic functions. The findings were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis. Results - Amongst the sympathetic nervous system parameters, statistically significant difference existed between cases and controls for the RHR, RDBP, ODBP, CSBP and CDBP (decrease), whereas out of the parasympathetic nervous system parameters tested, statistically significant difference existed between the two groups for RHR and 3015 ratio. Discussion Yoga asanas reduce sympathetic tone and increase parasympathetic tone. Decreased sympathetic tone caused by yogasanas leads to decreased peripheral resistance in blood vessels and leads to fall in blood pressure