According to the report of the World Health Organization, hypertension is a leading factor of mortality in the world and one of the biggest global health issues. Every year, 9.4 million people die from complications of hypertension worldwide. Hypertension is also responsible for at least 45 % of deaths due to heart disease and 51 % of deaths due to stroke. The Western European countries have a downward trend of death rate from stroke, as opposed to the Eastern European countries, where the death rate has been evidently increasing.
According to the report of the World Health Organization (WHO), the prevalence of hypertension increases with population growth, ageing and behavioural risk factors such as:
- unhealthy diet,
- excess weight and prolonged exposure to stress,
- insufficient physical activity and
- alcohol consumption.
The consequences of hypertension are more adverse for: - obese persons,
- smokers and
- persons with high cholesterol and diabetics.
Hypertension has been proven to be more prevalent amongst elderly persons and black people as well as, in general, in the low-income and middle-income countries. Moreover, the low-income and middle-income countries have a higher number of people with undiagnosed, untreated and uncontrolled hypertension.
Numerous studies have shown that hypertension can be controlled by non-pharmacological therapy and Transcendental Meditation.NON-PHARMACOLOGICAL THERAPYLifestyle changes are important for the prevention and treatment of hypertension.
Non-pharmacological hypertension therapy includes: - the reduction of salt intake,
- the reduction of alcohol consumption,
- other dietary changes,
- the reduction of body weight,
- regular physical activity and
- quitting smoking.
Research conducted amongst the African-American population, as the group which is at the highest risk of hypertension, has proven that the technique of Transcendental Meditation and education about a healthy way of life lead to the lowering of blood pressure.THE TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION TECHINQUETranscendental Meditation is a simple technique which provides a unique quality of rest for the mind and the body, enabling the elimination of fatigue and stress in a completely natural way, which results in an increased energy level, greater clarity of mind and more happiness in life.
The Transcendental Meditation technique was first taught worldwide by the Indian physicist and sage Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, at the end of the 1950s. More than four million people in the world have completed Transcendental Meditation courses and it is also worth mentioning that more than 550 scientific studies from the field of psychology, medicine, sociology and other scientific disciplines have been conducted on this type of meditation.
Anyone can learn Transcendental Meditation. The technique enables the natural relaxation of the active mind until it reaches a state of absolute inner peace, which is at the same time a state of full alertness and awareness. All it takes to learn the technique is dedicating a few hours each day during a four-day course.
