### The Benefits of Mindfulness Meditation for Physical Health
In the fast-paced, stress-laden environment of modern living, it’s easy to forget to take a break and just breathe. More and more, healthcare professionals are recommending meditation as a way to combat stress, anxiety, and depression. Not only can regular mindfulness meditation do wonders for your mental health, but it can also make noticeable changes for your physical well-being.
In this blog post, we’re going to explore the research-backed physical health benefits of practicing mindfulness meditation. This topic is increasingly gaining attention as latest scientific findings deem it as more than just a trend, but a substantial way to improve overall health.
#### Combatting Chronic Pain
It’s generally known that stress worsens pain, and meditation is an excellent way to manage stress levels. Though it seems like a rather psychological effect, a study published in the *Journal of Neuroscience* found that practicing mindfulness meditation actually reduces pain intensity and unpleasantness[^1^]. Essentially, meditation could be an added help when dealing with chronic pain issues.
#### Enhancing Heart Health
Cardiovascular diseases still remain as one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Not only does chronic stress increase the risk for heart disease, it also directly affects behaviors and factors that are linked to heart disease such as high blood pressure and cholesterol levels[^2^]. Multiple studies have shown that mindfulness meditation, used alongside traditional therapies, improves heart health, by enhancing relaxation, and reducing blood pressure[^3^].
#### Boosting Immunity
In the midst of a global pandemic, anything that can contribute to the enhancement of our body’s immunity is definitely worth a try. Regular mindfulness meditation can positively affect the immune system. Research suggests that mindful meditation can increase the activity of natural killer cells, which are critical in faultless immune responses[^4^].
In conclusion, it is crucial to remember that while meditation offers significant health benefits, it isn’t a replacement for medical treatment. It’s a supplement to traditional therapies that can help us manage the physical and mental stressors of daily life, therefore improving overall health.
To reap these potential benefits, don’t wait until stress becomes overwhelming. Whether you attend a guided meditation course or download a mindfulness app on your phone, taking regular, preventative mindfulness ‘medication’ could be just the thing your body and mind needs.
So why not incorporate regular mindfulness mediation into your daily routine? You might just find the calm amid the storm, and your health with thank you for it.
[^1^]: Zeidan, F., Martucci, K. T., Kraft, R. A., Gordon, N. S., McHaffie, J. G., & Coghill, R. C. (2011). Brain mechanisms supporting the modulation of pain by mindfulness meditation. Journal of Neuroscience, 31(14), 5540-5548.
[^2^]: Rozanski, A., Blumenthal, J. A., & Kaplan, J. (1999). Impact of psychological factors on the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease and implications for therapy. Circulation, 99(16), 2192-2217.
[^3^]: Schneider, R. H., Grim, C. E., Rainforth, M. V., Kotchen, T., Nidich, S. I., Gaylord-King, C., … & Alexander, C. N. (2012). Stress reduction in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: randomized, controlled trial of transcendental meditation and health education in Blacks. Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, 5(6), 750-758.
[^4^]: Infante, J. R., Peran, F., Rayo, J. I., Serrano, J., Dominguez, M. L., Garcia, L., … & Roldan, A. (1998). Levels of immune cells in transcendental meditation practitioners. International journal of yoga, 1(1), 74.
