Effects of Meditation on Patients with High Blood Pressure

The selection of meditation as the modality was selected because the patient is already taking prescription medication to control her blood pressure but still has trouble maintaining acceptable diastolic and systolic parameters. She also has described symptoms of anxiety during stressful work conditions. This information was considered and research regarding meditation shows that regular practice can reduce blood pressure and relieve anxiety. Wenneberg, Schneider, Walton, Maclean, Levitsky, Salerno & Wallace (1997) examined Transcendental meditation as a form of reducing patients with high blood pressure and the process of meditation is a practice of the patient sitting quietly for fifteen to twenty minutes per day and requires no changes in “lifestyle, personal beliefs, philosophy, diet or physical activity” (pg. 18). The result of the study showed that the group that participated in meditation on a consistent basis had “significantly lower ambulatory diastolic blood pressure after the 4 month intervention period” (Wenneberg, et. al, 1997, pg. 24). Since the patient is using the medication in conjunction with mediation, she is also likely to have more success, especially if the patient is consistent in the practice of using meditation techniques to control stress.

Meditation is described as states of consciousness that are different from wakefulness, relaxation, and sleep in that cortical changes appear in the brain (Chung, Brooks, Rai, Balk & Rai, 2012). All meditative techniques follow a similar structure involving a quiet environment and breathing techniques to achieve a state of mental silence (Chung, et. al, 2012). There are variations that include self-affirming or anxiety relief audio files for patients who need guidance or an instructor to teach the beginning stages of meditation.

There are also other studies that support the use of meditation as a legitimate treatment for health problems that are related to anxiety. Since the patient has admitted that much of her stress is related to her workplace, meditation is something that she can do during breaks or during lunchtime to help reduce her stress levels. The benefits of meditation can also “promote heart health by reducing blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen consumption” (“Meditation is Good Medicine”), which are all beneficial to a patient suffering from anxiety or those at risk for congestive heart failure. The Medical Update article suggests a simple and basic meditation exercise where the individual follows these steps:

1. Sit or lie in a comfortable chair or surface with your eyes closed and your hands placed on your knees or lap.

2. Focus your mind and repeat, either silently or quietly, a thought, phrase or prayer that is comforting or calming. If this is not feasible, focus on the inhalation and exhalation of every breath.

3. Don’t be stressed if your mind loses focus, this is normal; simply redirect your mind to the preselected thought or breathing and continue this process for 20 minutes.

Similar directions will be suggested to the patient, as well as applications or meditative music may also be suggested until she is able to find a process that is relaxing and calming.

The goal of this exercise is to help the patient re-pattern her thought process and encourage her to manage her stress by using simple meditative techniques. Her current blood pressure is 160/90 so the goal is to have her reduce those numbers to 150/80 by the time of her next doctor’s visit. While the goal may not be a significant change, the focus is to help the patient learn a coping skill that will help her be in control of her symptoms and her treatment; this will be lasting and meaningful to the patient (Harrison & Cooper, 2011). Meditation is also considered to be a holistic approach from the nursing perspective since it relates to the emotional issues that cause the physical symptoms to manifest.

This modality is also consistent with Martha Rogers’ model of nursing which views patients as unitary beings whose care must be holistic and include emotional well-being as well as physical well-being and how these two areas are affected by environmental factors. Rogers explains that the patterns of health and behavior of patients need to be examined as whole patterns instead of individual, singular events or issues (Alligood & Fawcett, 2003).

Applying Rogers’ rationale to the patient at hand reveals the interconnectedness of the workplace environment, the emotional environment, and the physical health environment of the patient (Alligood & Fawcett, 2003). The stress factors at work have increased the patient’s anxiety levels to the point where she has been suffering mental turmoil that has, in turn, caused physical symptoms of tension which, ultimately, is partly a factor in her high blood pressure. These symptoms can lead to hypertension and damage to the heart if left untreated.

The patient has described her high-stress levels as creating a feeling that weight on her chest manifests when she is tense. While there are external factors (angry clients or boss, looming work projects due, etc.) causing the problems that she cannot control, the patient can learn to adjust her pattern of thinking to keep the stress from becoming the catalyst for her health problems. Treating the patient’s ailments as separate and individual problems has, thus far, not been especially effective since treatment with captopril has not been successful in controlling her high blood pressure. In the Rogerian nursing approach, meditation can encourage the patient to think more positively and provide a coping skill for providing effective skills for coping with stress. As with all treatment plans, the success of this approach will also depend on the patient’s decision to consistently practice meditative techniques and to focus on lowering her high blood pressure. The goal of reaching 150/80 is desirable and lowering her blood pressure is the overarching focus, however, improvement of the emotional state of the patient will also be considered.

References

Alligood, M., & Fawcett, J. (2004). AN interpretive study of Martha Rogers' conception of pattern. Visions: The Journal Of Rogerian Nursing Science, 12(1), 8-13.

Chung, S., Brooks, M. M., Rai, M., Balk, J. L., & Rai, S. (2012). Effect of Sahaja Yoga meditation on quality of life, anxiety, and blood pressure control. Journal Of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 18(6), 589-596. doi:10.1089/acm.2011.0038

Harrison, O., & Cooper, C. L. (2011). Stress and non-communicable disease: a multi-pronged approach to building healthier coping skills. Stress & Health: Journal Of The International Society For The Investigation Of Stress, 27(2), 89-91. doi:10.1002/smi.1400

“Meditation Is Good Medicine”. (2002). Medical Update, 28(4), 4.

Wenneberg, S. R., & Schneider, R. H. (1997). A controlled study of the effects of the Transcendental meditation(r) program on cardiovascular. International Journal Of Neuroscience, 89(1/2), 15.