SEVERAL of our national newspapers reported in December 2014 that a study carried out in the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and published in the Journal of Hypertension, reveals that Nigeria has the highest incidence of hypertension in Africa. An article titled: An estimate of the prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria: a systematic review and meta-analysis by Adeloye D,  Basquill C, Aderemi AV, Thompson JY and Obi FA can be found online at Pubmed.gov . They hope their findings ‘will inform an appropriate public health response’, especially as they say that the majority of hypertensive sufferers are unaware they have the condition. This is undoubtedly an issue of considerable national interest. Elsewhere, other studies reveal developments that are worthy of careful consideration. In an October 14 online article in the Huffington Post, Craig Bowron writes about new ways to treat hypertension, based on the realisation that ‘Too many people are falsely diagnosed with hypertension and too many are missed’. In his article, New Blood Pressure Recommendations Could Change the Way Millions are Treated, Bowron says that, of the 70 million Americans with hypertension, 20 percent may not have the condition while 10-15 per cent should be on treatment but are not.

It is of further significant interest that long standing director of the hypertension program at Massachusetts General Hospital, USA, Dr. Randy Zusman, recommends, meditation as a way of lowering blood pressure, in addition to making healthy lifestyle choices. He arrived at this conclusion from results of a three-month study he directed with Boston’s Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine. The study revealed that 40 out of the 60 patients found meditation helped lower their blood pressure, in cases where medication alone had failed. Subsequently, the patients were able to lower the dosage of some of the medications used. Meditation was found dissipating tension.

Meditation is a mental activity of contemplation. For the spiritual minded, it is prayer, which anyone can engage in. Spiritual thinker and author Mary Baker Eddy defines prayer as a desire, rather than a petition — the desire to consistently do right, to walk in the Christ light. She writes in her book Science and Health with key to the Scriptures that no loss can occur when we trust God to mould and exalt our desires before they are expressed audibly and then practically in deeds. This may seem quite far removed from letting go of tension, lowering blood pressure and healing, till it is seen in the context of spirituality.

Starting from the premise of spiritual man, whom Eddy says is not made up of blood and other material elements, especially when spirituality forms the basis of meditation, is known to result in healing. Many continue to prove this to be the case, even finding that it actually brings the right balance to all bodily functions, including the pressure of blood.

Whether it is called tension or stress, hypertension or high blood pressure, the medical profession is beginning to realise that meditation, based on spiritual understanding, which many call prayer, can bring healing. You can too.
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