Mind-body medicine is a holistic approach to health that focuses on the interactions between the brain, mind, body, and behavior. Self-care is at the heart of wellness. Mind-body wellness promotes our capacity for self-knowledge and self-care, empowering us all to take an active role in our health. Research has demonstrated that mind-body practices can induce changes in our body, such as activating specific brain regions, toning heart rate variability, and suppressing stress-induced inflammatory pathways.¹ 

Chronic Stress and High Blood Pressure: Mind-body medicine recognizes that unmanaged stress can lead to illness and dysfunction. It is not uncommon to see a diagnosis of hypertension after starting a high stress job. Yet, this interconnection between stress and our health goes both ways. We can notice how we feel under stress and use our  body to manage it. For example, functional breath techniques during a stressful experience decreases the grip that stress has on our body. Diaphragmatic breathing is a powerful technique that helps put the brakes on our  stressed “fight or flight” response which has a cascade of physiologic changes in our body. Breathing alone can lower our heart rate and lower blood pressure. By engaging the body’s natural calming mechanism, diaphragmatic breathing helps transition from a stressed state to a more balanced, calm, and inherently more functional state. This is not rocket science, many of us already know and feel this. Yet do we know how important and how impacting it is? Mind-body medicine blends scientific knowledge with the power of self-awareness to provide accessible, affordable, and effective tools you can use each day. Continue your journey towards enhanced resilience and overall health.

Resources

1. Dossett ML, Fricchione GL, Benson H. A New Era for Mind-Body Medicine. N Engl J Med. 2020 Apr 9;382(15):1390-1391. doi: 10.1056/NEJMp1917461. PMID: 32268025; PMCID: PMC7486127.