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Mindfulness, Aortic Wave Reflection, And Arterial Stiffness, Sarah Lewallen

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Cardiovascular disease and hypertension are leading causes of death worldwide. The mitigation of high blood pressure is essential in decreasing the prevalence of cardiovascular-related deaths worldwide. Stress and anxiety are known to play a role in augmenting blood pressure in individuals of all ages. This increase in pressure can result in premature stiffening of large arteries in systemic circulation. Mindfulness is an ancient, non-secular practice which aids in stress reduction. Decentering, an aspect of mindfulness, involves accepting thoughts as transient rather than permanent associations. The purpose of this project was to examine the relationship between cardiovascular health and mindfulness practices. …