Effect of Mindful Meditation, Physical Activity, and Diet to Reduce the Risk to Develop or Reduce Severity of Cardiovascular Diseases in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review

Background: Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is one of the leading chronic diseases in Saudi Arabia (SA) that cause disability and death. CVD predisposition risk varies according to age, gender, education, socioeconomic factors, and place of residency. In addition, CVD risk factors include physical inactivity, sedentary lifestyle, saturated fatty acid high diet, smoking, and stress. Aim: This is a systematic review study that aims to determine the effect of mindful mediation, physical activity, and diet on CVD in SA. Materials and Methods: This is a systematic electronic search method in Google scholar, PubMed, and Medline. Papers collected are papers that have been published since 2015. The search uses the following keywords: (Cardiovascular disease OR physical activity OR Physical inactivity OR meditation OR diet) AND Saudi Arabia. Data were extracted from each study through a narrative summary of each study. Results: Forty papers collected from 2015 to 2022 were included in the narrative study. Physical activity, diet, and mindful meditation are among the factors that can reduce the risk of development of CVD or severity of disease in patients with a CVD. Conclusion: This systematic review emphasized risk factors like physical inactivity, poor diet, and low level of awareness among Saudis and CVD Saudi patients. The findings show the role of physical activity, mindful meditation, and diet in reducing the onset or severity of cardiovascular disease.

Analysis of the Effect of Mindfulness Meditation on Patients with Burning Mouth Syndrome

Objective:To explore the effect of mindfulness meditation on patients with burning mouth syndrome.Methods:60 patients with burning mouth syndrome in our hospital who were treated from January 2021 to December 2022 were selected for this study.The patients were divided into two groups of thirty cases each using the randomized numerical table method.The observation underwent psychological intervention and mindfulness meditation training,while the control group only received symptomatic care.The condition of the patients of both groups was observed and compared.Results:Upon receiving treatment,the patients in the observation group had lower Hamilton Anxiety(HAM-A)scores,and Hamilton Depression(HAMD)scores compared to the control group(P<0.05).The visual analog scale(VAS)scores of the observation group were also lower than those of the control group(P<0.05).Moreover,the efficacy of the nursing intervention in the observation group was higher than that of the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Psychological intervention and mindfulness meditation training can effectively improve the clinical symptoms of patients with burning mouth syndrome.Therefore,this treatment method should be popularized.

Underlying mechanisms of mindfulness meditation:Genomics,circuits,and networks

Understanding neuropsychological mechanisms of mindfulness meditation(MM)has been a hot topic in recent years.This review was conducted with the goal of synthesizing empirical relationships via the genomics,circuits and networks between MM and mental disorders.We describe progress made in assessing the effects of MM on gene expression in immune cells,with particular focus on stressrelated inflammatory markers and associated biological pathways.We then focus on key brain circuits associated with mindfulness practices and effects on symptoms of mental disorders,and expand our discussion to identify three key brain networks associated with mindfulness practices including default mode network,central executive network,and salience network.More research efforts need to be devoted into identifying underlying neuropsychological mechanisms of MM on how it alleviates the symptoms of mental disorders.

indfulness Meditation for Primary Headache Pain： A Meta-Analysis

Background： Several studies have reported that mindfulness meditation has a potential effect in controlling headaches, such as migraine and tension-type headache; however, its role remains controversial. This review assessed the evidence regarding the effects of mindfulness meditation for primary headache pain. Methods： Only English databases （PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials [the Cochrane Library], PsyclNFO, Psychology and behavioral science collection, PsyArticles, Web of Science, and Scopus） were searched from their inception to November 2016 with the keywords （＂meditation＂ or ＂mindfulness＂ or ＂vipassana＂ or ＂dzogchen＂ or ＂zen＂ or ＂integrative body-mind training＂ or ＂IBMT＂ or ＂mindfulness-based stress reduction＂ or ＂MBSR＂ or ＂＇mindfulness-based cognitive therapy＂ or ＂MBCT＂ and ＂Headache＂ or ＂Head pain＂ or ＂Cephalodynia＂ or ＂Cephalalgia＂ or ＂Hemicrania＂ or ＂Migraine＂）. Titles, abstracts, and full-text articles were screened against study inclusion criteria： controlled trials of structured meditation programs for adult patients with primary headache pain. The quality of studies included in the meta-analysis was assessed with the Yates Quality Rating Scale. The meta-analysis was conducted with Revman 5.3. Results： Ten randomized controlled trials and one controlled clinical trial with a combined study population of 315 patients were included in the study. When compared to control group data, mindfulness meditation induced significant improvement in pain intensity （standardized mean difference, -0.89; 95% confidence interval, 1.63 to 0.15; P - 0.02） and headache frequency （-0.67; - 1.24 to -0.10; P - 0.02）. In a subgroup analysis of different meditation forms, mindfulness-based stress reduction displayed a significant positive influence on pain intensity （P 〈 0.000）. Moreover, 8-week intervention had a significant positive effect （P 〈 0.000）. Conclusions： Mindfulness meditation may reduce pain intensity and is a promising treatment option tbr patients. Clinicians may consider mindfulness meditation as a viable complementary and alternative medical option for primary headache.