Dr John M

cardiac electrophysiologist, cyclist, learner

  • Home
  • About
    • About Me
    • About the Blog
      • General Cardiology and Internal Medicine
    • Six Reasons why I Blog
    • What’s Electrophysiology?
    • ICD/Pacemaker
    • Electrophysiology Column / Medscape
    • Contact
  • Afib
    • AFib
    • AF in Athletes
    • The best tool to treat AF
    • Know your CHADS-VASC Score
    • 3 non-warfarin anticoagulants
    • AF ablation
      • 13 things to know about AF
      • Atrial Fib Ablation -2012 Update
      • Gender-Spec results of AF ablation
    • Female gender and stroke risk in AF
    • My AF Story
  • Heart Healthy
    • Heart Disease (by DrJohnM)
    • Healthy Living
    • Exercise
    • Nutrition
    • inflammation
  • Policy
    • Policy
    • Health Care
    • Health Care Reform
  • Doctoring
    • Doctoring
    • Knowledge
    • Reflection
    • General Medicine
      • Does your cholesterol level matter?
    • General Cardiolgy – Medicine
      • What is a normal heart rate?
      • Cardiology/Internal Med
      • General Cardiology
      • Athletic heart
        • The ECG of an athlete
      • General Medicine
      • Stroke
      • Statins
  • Cycling
    • DrJohnM on Cycling
    • How I became a bike racer
    • My top 12 Likes on Cycling
    • Cyclocross
      • A CX-Primer
    • Fitness
    • Athletic heart
    • The Mysterious Athletic Heart

Does exercise have to look a certain way? Can Yoga deliver heart health?

January 9, 2015 By Dr John

One of my good friends, a guru of sorts, once told me during a ride that things change. He was 50 years-old at the time and the change he was referring to was cycling abilities and priorities. At the time, I was at the peak of my cycling prowess; we were part of strong masters team and things were rolling beautifully. Ah…you are strong, I said. We can keep this up for many more years. He shook his head. “You will see, John.”

Now that I have reached that milestone, I realize the wisdom. Things do change. Bodies change. Priorities change. Pegs on which people hang their self-esteem change.

One thing that remains unchanged, though, is the power of exercise to bring health. Exercise, along with good food choices, sleep hygiene and kindness form the foundation of true health. Wellness.

My views on exercise have always been biased by my own experiences. In the past, I believed that if exercise was to deliver heart health, (drops in blood pressure, change in cholesterol levels, arterial changes) it had to look a certain way. Mostly, it had to be intense and aerobic.

A series of studies on the ancient Indian practice of Yoga challenge such thinking. One study went so far as to study Yoga for the treatment of atrial fibrillation.

I reviewed these studies and wrote some thoughts on the matter. It’s my first post as a writer for the consumer side of WebMD.

The link and title of the story: Yoga for Heart Health? (No registration is required.)

JMM

  • Email
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • More
  • Reddit

Related posts:

  1. Endurance exercise and the heart — a mention in the New Yorker
  2. Prolonged exercise leads to heart damage — pro/con debate
  3. CW: It’s settled–Long-term extreme endurance exercise is not heart healthy
  4. CW: Regular Exercise: An amazingly effective elixir

Filed Under: Atrial fibrillation, Cycling Stuff, Exercise, Healthy Living Tagged With: Yoga

John Mandrola, MD

Welcome, Enjoy, Interact. john-mandrola I am a cardiac electrophysiologist practicing in Louisville KY. I am also a husband to a palliative care doctor, a father, a bike racer, and a regular columnist at theHeart.org | Medscape

My First Book is Now Available…

Email Newsletter

Search the Site

Categories

Find me on theheart.org | Medscape Cardiology

  • Electrophysiology commentary on Medscape/Cardiology

Mandrola on Medscape

  • My Medscape column on general medical matters

For patients...Educational posts

  • 13 things to know about Atrial Fibrillation — 2014
  • A new cure of AF
  • Adding a new verb to doctoring: To deprescribe is to do a lot
  • AF ablation — 2015 A Cautionary Note
  • AF Ablation in 2012–An easier journey?
  • Atrial Flutter — 15 facts you may want to know.
  • Benign PVCs: A heart rhythm doctor’s approach.
  • Caution with early Cardioversion
  • Decisions of 2 low-risk cases of PAF
  • Defining success in AF ablation in 2014
  • Four commonly asked questions on AF ablation
  • Inflammation and AF — Get off the gas
  • Ten things to expect after AF ablation
  • The medical decsion as a gamble
  • The most important verb in our health crisis
  • Wellness Requires Ownership

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.