A total of 29 studies met inclusion criteria, including 9 randomized controlled trials, 14 nonrandomized studies, and 6 observational trials. The study subjects included patients with coronary heart disease, heart failure, CVD, and CVDRF (hypertension, dyslipidemia, impaired glucose metabolism). Tai Chi interventions ranged from 8 weeks to 3 years, and the sample size ranged from 5 to 207. Most studies reported improvement with Tai Chi intervention, such as reduction in blood pressure and increase in exercise capacity. In addition, no adverse effects were reported. The authors concluded that Tai Chi may be a beneficial adjunctive therapy for patients with CVD and CVDRF.- Medscape Today, from WebMD, 10/26/2010
Read entire article at:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/729132
Heart disease. A 53-person study at National Taiwan University found that a year of tai chi significantly boosted exercise capacity, lowered blood pressure, and improved levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, and C-reactive protein in people at high risk for heart disease. The study, which was published in the September 2008 Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, found no improvement in a control group that did not practice tai chi.
Heart failure. In a 30-person pilot study at Harvard Medical School, 12 weeks of tai chi improved participants' ability to walk and quality of life. It also reduced blood levels of B-type natriuretic protein, an indicator of heart failure. A 150-patient controlled trial is under way.
Harvard Medical School's Health Publications, May, 2009
HEART DISEASE. At the Institute of Psychology, Academia Sinica, a research study found that T'ai Chi and QiGong practice can positively affect the states of mind of subjects to lessen the incidence of Type-A behavior patterns, believed to increase the risk of heart disease.
BBC News - Saturday, 9 October, 2004, 23:22 GMT 00:22 UK
Tai Chi 'can treat heart failure'
A US study of 30 patients found regular classes gave patients better movement and reduced BNP levels, a measure of heart failure.
A number of the patients attended twice weekly classes for 12 months while a second group had standard treatment.
The British Heart Foundation said the study was "excellent news" and Tai Chi could be adopted into treatment programmes in the UK in the future.
Thirty patients with chronic stable heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction were randomly assigned to receive usual care, which included pharmacologic therapy and dietary and exercise counseling, or 12 weeks of tai chi training in addition to usual care. Tai chi training consisted of a 1-hour class held twice weekly.
Primary outcomes included quality of life and exercise capacity. Secondary outcomes included serum B-type peptide and plasma catecholamine levels.
RESULTS: At 12 weeks, patients in the tai chi group showed improved quality-of-life scores, increased distance walked in 6 minutes, and decreased serum B-type peptide levels compared with patients in the control group. A trend towards improvement was seen in peak oxygen uptake.
-- American Journal of Medicine, 117, 541-8
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