Abstract

EFFECT OF YOGA ON PLASMA ADRENALINE LEVELS, PLASMA MELATONIN AND CARDIOVASCULAR PARAMETERS IN HYPER-REACTORS TO COLD PRESSOR TEST IN YOUNG HEALTHY VOLUNTEER

Shreya Nigoskar, Verma Rahul*, M. S. Chandel, Rajak Chanda and Prateek Prabhakar Awasthi

ABSTRACT

Background: Stress may be defined as psychophysiological process usually experienced as a negative emotional state. It is a common condition, a response to a physical threat or psychological distress that generates a host of chemical and hormonal reactions in the body. The health effects of stress involve mainly autonomic, cardiovascular, and immune systems. Objective: The aim of present study was to investigate whether regular practice of Yoga for three months can reduce cardiovascular and respiratory reactivity induced by cold pressor test. Material: The present study included 25 male medical students of first M.B.B.S. of 18 to 25years of age. After recording the basal blood pressure and pulse rate, and the cardiovascular reactivity of all the 25 students was measured by application of cold pressor test devised by Hines & Brown (1936). 20 were found to be hyper reactor to this test. These hyper reactors underwent Yogasana, Nadishodhana, Bhramari Pranayama, and meditation for the duration of 12 weeks. Before and after the yogic training period the plasma Adrenaline level, mean blood pressure and mean pulse rate/ min were measured which were found to be significantly reduced whereas plasma Melatonin level was significantly increased. Statistically by using student t‟ test Result: Regular practice of yoga for three months significantly reduced the cardiovascular reactivity to cold pressor test, plasma Adrenaline level, basal blood pressure and pulse rate and Plasma Melatonin level increased. Conclusion: We concluded that regular practice of yoga for three months reduced the plasma Adrenaline level, and cardiovascular parameters and plasma Melatonin level was increased. Possibly by inducing parasympathetic predominance and cortico-hypothalamo-medullary inhibition.

Keywords: Stress, Yoga, Cold pressor test, Plasma Adrenaline, Plasma Melatonin.