Shining a light on the powerful link between the mind and body, a new study suggests that cardiac arrest survivors who learn to focus their thoughts on the here and now during recovery are less likely to become depressed or anxious.
The finding centers on a mental health practice known as “mindfulness,” which amounts to a sort of stop-and-smell-the-roses approach to life.
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“Mindfulness can be defined as non-judgmental awareness of the present moment” through techniques such as meditation or yoga, study lead author Alex Presciutti says.
That essentially means leaving behind regrets about the past or fears about the future, in favor of a moment-by-moment focus.
For example, that could involve paying closer attention to the flavor, texture or smell of meals. “Or, when taking a walk outdoors, attending to the sights, sounds and smells in your environment,” Presciutti notes.
READ: Blacks Twice As Likely To Suffer Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Even the American Heart Association (AHA) thinks mindfulness may have cardiovascular benefits, as noted in a scientific statement issued earlier this year that highlighted its potential as a protective tool for reducing stress and bolstering well-being among heart patients.
That could be important, Presciutti says, given that “we know that depression and other mental health struggles are quite common even in long-term cardiac arrest survivors.”
His own prior research revealed that 1 in 5 long-term cardiac arrest survivors experienced elevated depression symptoms, 1 in 4 developed
anxiety, and 1 in 4 struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.
Investigators found that those who had — on their own inclination — embraced a more present-focused and accepting take on life had fewer signs of psychological distress.
Presciutti emphasizes that the study does not actually prove that mindfulness causes depression or anxiety to fall away, only that the two appear connected.
Still, “this is promising news,” he says, “because it means we have identified mindfulness as something that may help cardiac arrest survivors, a population that struggles with chronic psychological symptoms. Going forward, we will need to study the potential protective role of mindfulness in cardiac arrest survivors in more robust study designs.”
But Neda Gould, director of the mindfulness program at Johns Hopkins University and associate director of the Bayview Anxiety Disorders Clinic in Baltimore, is already sold on the potential of mindfulness.
“It’s not surprising that the practice of mindfulness is helpful for this patient population,” Gould says.
“After a significant life event, the brain can focus on fears of the future or ruminate on the past. These can be important factors in maintaining anxiety and depression. Mindfulness grounds us in the present moment and allows us to gain some distance and a different perspective on these unhelpful mind states,” she notes.
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“The important thing to remember is that mindfulness requires practice,” Gould stresses. “It is just like building a muscle. We have to continue to tend to it,” whether that be through self-guided meditative practice or assistance through apps.
“Some people find it helpful to practice as part of a group or a community,” Gould notes, “which allows a feeling of connection and accountability with the practices, which can be difficult to implement.
“Of course, when the symptoms of depression, anxiety and PTSD are clinically significant it is important to seek professional care and use mindfulness as an adjunct to treatment,” she cautions.
“[But] I am happy to see many cardiologists and other physicians recommending mindfulness practices to their patients as a means of stress reduction,” Gould adds. “I still think it is underutilized and can be a very helpful tool for appropriate patients.”
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