Abstract

EFFECT OF YOGA PRACTICES ON EXAMINATION STRESS INDUCED CHANGES IN SERUM CORTISOL LEVEL & CARDIOVASCULAR PARAMETERS IN YOUNG HEALTHY MEDICAL STUDENTS.

Potey G.G., Verma Rahul, Rajak Chanda*, Rampalliwar Sanjeev and Mahapatra S.P.

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 the level of cortisol & cardiovascular reactivity induced by Examination stress. Material and Method: The study group comprised 20 & control group comprised 20 healthy subjects of 18-20 years age group. The reactivity to Examination stress was reduced after the three months of yoga therapy. The increase serum cortisol,, rise in blood pressure and pulse rate were also significantly reduced statistically by using student‗t‗ test. Result: Regular practice of yoga for 3 months significantly reduced the cardiovascular reactivity to Examination stress basal blood pressure, pulse rate & cortisol level. Conclusion: We concluded that regular practice of yoga for three months reduced the Examination stress possibly by inducing parasympathetic predominance and cortico-hypothalamo-medullary inhibition.

Keywords: Yoga, stress, cortisol.