A New Benefit to Being Mindful

 Mindfulness is having its “moment”, and here’s one more reason to give it a shot:  Menopause symptoms (such as anxiety, hot flashes, and sleep problems) reported by women who practiced mindfulness, were calmer according to a new study.  

 Often these symptoms can trigger a fight-or-flight response, that causes things like rapid breathing, spiking of blood pressure, pulse rate, and blood sugar.  “With mindfulness, a woman can choose to focus on taking slow, deep breaths, that steer her away from the panic,” says Richa Sood, MD an associate professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic.  

 She suggests trying a guided meditation video online or a meditation app like Headspace or Calm.   Prevention, July 2019