Meditation may reduce risk of heart attack, stroke in African-Americans

Transcendental Meditation may help African Americans with heart disease avoid an early death from heart attack or stroke, according to a new study.

"It appears that Transcendental Meditation is a technique that turns on the body's own pharmacy — to repair and maintain itself," said Dr. Robert Schneider, the author of the study and dean of Maharishi College of Perfect Health.

The new research, published in the American Heart Association Journal, said those who regularly practiced Transcendental Meditation were 48 percent less likely to "have a heart attack, stroke or die from all causes compared with African-Americans who attended a health education class over more than five years."

CBS News reported 201 black women and men with heart disease participated in the study. They averaged 59 years old and were considered obese.

The study required they meditate with their eyes closed twice a day for about 20 minutes.

HealthDay reported University of California cardiologist Dr. Gregg Fonarow said “more studies and replication of these findings are needed," to determine the results of the study.

Fonarow said, while "statistically significant, the findings were "too small to be conclusive," according to HealthDay.