Wireless Sensors Used to Study Meditation`s Effect on Heart Health.

Demystify meditation with science, researchers at the Scripps Translational Science Institute (STSI) have teamed with The Chopra Foundation and The Chopra Center for Wellbeing in a novel study of the ancient practice that uses wireless health sensors to collect physiological data from meditators.

“Although the health benefits of meditation have been extensively studied, little is known about the immediate effects of meditation on the heart and vascular system, partly because of the difficulty collecting research quality data through conventional means,” said Scripps Health Director of Digital Medicine Steve Steinhubl M.D. “Wireless devices offer new ways to track blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature and other vital signs in a more discrete and non-disruptive way.”

STSI is a National Institutes of Health-sponsored consortium led by Scripps Health in collaboration with The Scripps Research Institute. Through this innovative partnership, Scripps is leading the effort to translate the latest wireless and genetic medical technologies into high-quality, cost-effective treatments for patients.

Meditation has long been associated with lower levels of stress and increased emotional well-being, but its immediate effect on the cardiovascular system remains uncertain. A 2007 report by the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found flaws in most of the 813 meditation studies that were reviewed, and the authors were unable to draw “firm conclusions” about the role of meditation in health care.

“For thousands of years people have practiced meditation to experience inner calm, relieve stress and cultivate balance or what is known in modern medicine as homeostasis, which is the body’s ability to regulate its internal conditions and create a healthy, stable environment,” said Chopra Center co-founder Deepak Chopra, M.D. “We’re excited about the opportunity to use wireless technology to gain more scientific data about meditation’s tangible benefits for health and wellbeing. This research has great potential value for both meditators and physicians whose patients might be helped by meditation.”
Meditation and heart care

The STSI study might for the first time demonstrate the immediate influence of meditation on blood pressure and markers of stress, and eventually guide better and more individualized treatments of high blood pressure, chronic pain or other health conditions, said STSI Director and Scripps Chief Academic Officer Eric Topol, MD. “With STSI’s experience and expertise in digital and individualized medicine, we hope to offer advanced insight into the body’s response to meditation,” he said.

The work also could reinforce the value of using wireless health devices in scientific research, particularly when more conventional equipment would interfere with the normal activities of study participants.

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