The Effects of Meditation on Stress and Illness

Rebecca Deans
School of Science and Natural Resources
Lake Superior State University

Abstract
	Stress is a common factor in everyone's life. When confronted by a
stressful situation several physiological changes occur in order to prepare our
bodies to deal with the stressor. One of the most noticeable changes to our
physiology is an increase in blood pressure. Other physiological changes which
occur during times of stress are not noticed, such as an increased production of
corticosteroids. Corticosteroids regulate the levels of blood sugar and
electrolytes in the body. They also suppress the body's inflammatory response
to infection and injury and the immune response. The purpose of this study was
to note the effects of meditation, a stress management technique, on blood
pressure, heart rate, and illness. Ten subjects, (five male and five female), were
selected to participate in the study. Their blood pressure, heart rate, and illness
information were measure to establish a baseline. At the end of the two week
period five participants were selected randomly to begin meditation. Once
again, the ten participants' blood pressure, heart rate and illness information
were measured for a month. The blood pressure data, from the ten participants,
was analyzed using a Two Factor A Nova Replication test. A Nova analysis
indicated a significant difference, (p<.05), in heart rate. Chi square analysis
indicated a significant difference, (p<.OO1 ), in the number of illnesses
experienced. No significant difference in blood pressure was observed.
Meditation was shown to decrease heart rate and increase to incident of illness.
The increase in illness could be due to the fact that the acute, or short term
stress can protect and individual from illness. That by reducing stress, through
meditation, an individual can become susceptible to illness. Chronic, or long
term, stress may cause an increase in illness due to the prolonged presence of
immunosupressive hormones.

Selected References

Weiner, E. (1 992). A consumers guide to controlling blood pressure.
	New York: Wings Books.

Freis, E., & Kolata, G. (1980). The high blood pressure book.
	Sausalito: Painter Hopkins Four Publishers.

Bishop, G. (1994). Health psychology Integrating mind and body.
	Boston: Allyn and Bacon.