Do you have a CD, cassette or download that would help my 85 year old father-in-law, who's got a tracheotomy following a heart attack & weeks of sedation?
He's not depressed, per se, but he is frustrated with the trach & is interested in guided imagery/self-hypnosis. He's a retired psychologist & musician - a great guy.
A mental vacation with imagery of strengthening and regaining his health - hopefully without reference to breathing through his nose or mouth - would be great.
Investigators from the Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health & Leisure in Porto, Portugal conducted a study to analyze the association between blood pressure and (1) body mass index (BMI), (2) degree of physical activity and (3) cardio-respiratory fitness (CRF) in young people.
The study included 66 boys and 97 girls (average age around 14). Measures were taken of blood pressure and cardio-respiratory fitness during the school day, and accelerometers were used to determine degree of physical activity, both during and away from school.
Which of your guided imagery CDs or tapes should I order to get my blood pressure down? I am on medication. Thanks.
Ben
Answer:
Dear Ben,
First off, let me say that anything that helps you to relax is very likely going to get your blood pressure down. So in a general, non-targeted way, any of the guided relaxation and meditation programs we offer are qualified to do this. Similarly, anything that says it’s designed to reduce stress is going to help lower your blood pressure.
Hi Belleruth,
I checked your CD listing, and I didn't see a specific one for hypertension, and I'd rather have something of yours as a resource, so would you recommend your CD on Stress or is there another one that would be appropriate?
Researchers from the Pain Division of the Department of Anesthesiology at Columbia University in New York, concerned about the connection between depression/anxiety and the postoperative risk of a patient having a cardiac event after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), explored whether guided imagery might reduce postoperative distress in these patients.
Fifty-six patients scheduled to undergo coronary artery bypass grafting at Columbia University Medical Center were randomized into 3 groups: guided imagery, music therapy, and standard care control. Patients in the imagery and music groups listened to audiotapes preoperatively and intraoperatively. All patients completed psychological assessments, disclosure of their use of CAM therapies, and other assessments before surgery and after one week and 6 months postoperatively.
Researchers in nursing from the University of Toronto investigated whether relaxation through guided imagery could reduce blood pressure in hypertensive pregnant women, as it does in non-pregnant women, with this feasibility study.
A total of 69 pregnant women with hypertension were randomized to either a guided imagery intervention or quiet rest, twice daily for 4 weeks or until delivery, whichever came first. Daytime ambulatory mean arterial pressure, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and anxiety were measured weekly (for up to four weeks).
Researchers from the Integrative Medicine Program at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons gathered preliminary information regarding the feasibility of implementing a brief meditation-based stress management (MBSM) program for patients with CHD, and those at high risk for CHD, at a major metropolitan hospital that serves a predominately non-local patient population. The secondary aim of the study was to see if such an intervention could reduce depression, as well as perceived stress, anxiety, and hostility, while improving general health scores.
Researchers from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi examined the short-term impact of a brief yoga intervention on some of the biochemical risk indicators for cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus.
Ninety-eight subjects (67 male, 31 female), ages 20-74, with hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and a variety of other illnesses, participated in a lifestyle training program that consisted of yoga asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing exercises), relaxation techniques, group support, individualized advice, lectures and films on the philosophy of yoga and the place of yoga in daily life, meditation, stress management, nutrition, and knowledge about their disease.
I have a daughter who was sexually abused by her brother when she was 6. She is 24 now and several years ago she finally remembered some of the horrible events. She is anorexic due to the abuse. She refuses to go to therapy because she doesn't want to tell her story. Any CD that can help these issues or help her to get to a therapist?
Investigators from the Division of Cardiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles evaluated the efficacy of Transcendental Meditation (TM) on components of Metabolic Syndrome and Coronary Heart Disease (CHD).They conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of 16 weeks duration on a total of 103 subjects with stable CHD, testing the impact of TM vs. health education.
Main outcome measures included blood pressure, lipoprotein profile, and insulin resistance; endothelial function as measured by brachial artery reactivity testing; and cardiac autonomic system activity, as measured by heart rate variability
