Maria Wahlström has been researching MediYoga since 2009. It is a calm form of yoga consisting of specially designed breathing exercises, meditation and stretching of the chest muscles. It is not physically demanding as other forms of yoga can be, but is suitable for everyone regardless of age and fitness.

It all started when she was asked to organise a yoga session at a wellness day at Danderyd Hospital, where she was working at the time.

- Through my own interest in yoga, I had got to know the man who developed MediYoga in Sweden. I invited him to hold a yoga class for the staff. It was a success," says Maria Wahlström, who was encouraged by her manager at the Heart Clinic to start a research project on MediYoga.

Useful tools

Maria Wahlström's research shows that MediYoga improves the quality of life of patients with paroxysmal fibrillation. What characterises the disease is that the fibrillation comes in the form of attacks that can last from a few minutes to several days. These are often distressing for the patient, who may experience shortness of breath and chest tightness.
However, patients who practise MediYoga feel less anxiety, not only about having a fibrillation attack but also during the attack itself. In addition, their blood pressure and heart rate are lowered.

- They feel that MediYoga has given them useful tools," she explains.

Many of the patients involved in the studies are older and have never tried yoga before, but there has been no problem getting them to participate. On the contrary, they find yoga exciting.

Four sub-studies

The doctoral thesis presented here is the largest study of MediYoga conducted in Sweden and consists of four sub-studies. The first compares patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who participate in MediYoga with a control group.

In the second larger study, patients were randomised into three groups: a MediYoga group, a group that practised relaxation with music, and a control group. The aim was to find out whether it was the yoga movements themselves or just the relaxation that had an effect.

The results of the first study held true here too. Patients in the MediYoga group felt that they got to know themselves and their bodies better and their values improved.

- MediYoga reduced their anxiety. One patient told us that he loved going to the opera, but hadn't done so for a long time for fear of having a fibrillation attack. But thanks to MediYoga, he dared to go to the opera again and was able to use deep breathing and yoga exercises.

The third study is an in-depth interview with 12 patients about the impact of MediYoga on their lives.

- A woman explains that she is no longer afraid because she knows what to do when she has a fibrillation attack. A man says he has been symptom-free for three months.

Gender differences

Previous research on paroxysmal atrial fibrillation shows that female patients have a lower quality of life than male patients. The reason for this is not known, but it is known that women generally experience palpitations more and find it easier to talk about their symptoms.

In the fourth study, Maria Wahlström therefore wanted to find out whether there were any gender differences in participants' experiences of MediYoga. And there were: all participants experienced positive changes, but men consistently felt better than women.

Sweden is at the forefront of bringing MediYoga (which is a registered trademark) into the health care system and it is offered in 240 health care centres around the country. Among other things, the method is used for back and shoulder pain, stress and fatigue problems, but also after cancer treatment or heart attacks.

But Maria Wahlström is not satisfied yet. She will continue her research on MediYoga.
- "Larger studies and longer-term studies are needed in different parts of the country," she says.

Maria Wahlström
Age: 56 years.
Lives in: Stockholm.
Family: Husband.
Does: Researcher, assistant professor at Sophiahemmet University College. Educates in heart disease at basic and specialist level. Has worked clinically as a nurse for 30 years.
Interests: Yoga and our country house on Utö.
Current work: PhD thesis "Effects of MediYoga in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation".

Facts - paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

Proxy atrial fibrillation affects about three per cent of the population, mainly the elderly.
It manifests itself as a heart attack and is not dangerous in itself, but if left untreated it can lead to heart failure and stroke.
The standard treatment consists of drugs, electric shocks and ablation - burning away nerve fibres in the heart.

Text: Inger Sundelin