I speak periodically at the New Age Health Spa, and
discovered there these astounding facts on stress and the effect meditation has
on reducing it. These were collected by David and Karen Gamow, Clarity
Seminars, Mountain View, California. With thanks to the Gamows and the New Age,
I share with you:

Top 10 Facts on
Stress & How Meditation Reduces It

1.   
‘Stress is linked to the following illnesses: hypertension,
heart attacks, diabetes, asthma, chronic pain, allergies, headache, backache,
various skin disorders, cancer, and immune system weaknesses as it decreases
the number of white blood cells and the changes in their function.’ (Nation’s
Business)

2.   
‘Stress is more powerful than diet in influencing cholesterol
levels. Several studies, including one of medical students around exam time and
another of accountants during tax season, have show significant increases in
cholesterol levels during stressful events, when there was little change in
diet.’ (Dr. Paul Rosch, Prof. of Medicine, New York Medical College)

3.   
‘Four hundred people were intentionally exposed to common-cold
viruses. Those who scored highest on a test of stressful life events were more
than twice as likely to develop colds after exposure than people who scored
lowest.’ (Dr. Sheldon Cohen, Carnegie Mellon University, Nat’l Institute of
Health Conference)

4.   
‘Meditation decreases oxygen consumption, heart rate,
respiratory rate, and blood pressures, and increase the intensity of alpha,
theta, and delta brain waves, the opposite of the physiological changes that
occur during the stress response.’ (Herbert Benson, MD, Harvard Medical School)

5.   
‘Meditation significantly controls high blood pressure at
levels comparable to widely used prescription drugs, and without the side
effects of drugs.’ (“Hypertension,” AMA Journal)

6.   
‘Meditators are more able to reduce chronic pain by more than
50%, while increasing daily function and markedly improving their moods, even
four years after completion of an 8-week training course.’ (Jon Kabat-Zinn, MD,
Stress Reduction Clinic, University of Massachusetts)

7.   
‘75% of long-term insomniacs who have been trained in
relaxation and meditation can fall asleep within twenty minutes of going to
bed.’ (Dr. Gregg Jacobs, psychologist, Harvard)

8.   
‘Reducing stress can dramatically reduce heart disease. In a
five-year study of heart disease patients, those who learned to manage stress
reduced their risk of having another heart attack by 74%, compare with patients
receiving medication only. Reducing stress also proved more beneficial than
getting exercise.’ (Dr. James Blumenthal, Duke University)

9.   
‘A study of women with PMS showed a 58% improvement in their
symptoms after five months of daily meditation.’ (Health magazine)

10.    ‘High school
students who study relaxation rtechniques stay in school more often and have
few incidents of suspension.’ (The Education Initiative, Mind/Body Medical Institute, Harvard University)

 But where’s Victoria? I’m here, I’m here…I’m just in the midst of book touring and have to pre-post more blogs than usual. For those of you who like keeping up with my charmed-life adventures, more are coming once the break from travel sets in. In the meantime, follow me on Twitter, and if you’d like to receive my newsletter, “The Charmed Monday Minute,” you can subscribe from my site.