Effect of yoga on salivary cortisol in medical student

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONOver the decade, hundreds of studies have specifically focused on the effects of stressors on cortisol activation. The process by which this regulation is achieved is complex and our understanding of it has evolved markedly over the last century. Physical stressors, psychological stressors are capable of activating the HPA axis; a number of studies have reported that laboratory tasks can increase cortisol levels.1 Salivary cortisol offers a non-invasive and stress-free alternative to serum. In the last few years, saliva analysis has been a useful method of choice for hormone analyses. Numerous articles have described the use of saliva for analytical purposes in clinical investigations (i.e. in the field of endocrinology, neuroendocrinology) and in physiological research. 2A growing body of research evidence supports the belief that certain yoga techniques may improve physical and mental health through down-regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). The HPA axis and ABSTRACT Background: Yoga is a spiritual discipline for the development of a state of mental and physical health, well-being, it has also been used clinically as a therapeutic intervention. This study observes the effects of yoga poses on salivary cortisol. Salivary cortisol is potential biomarker of psychological stress. Nonetheless, psychobiological mechanisms stimulate the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) can only indirectly be assessed by salivary cortisol measures. The unlike instances that control HPAA sensitivity (e.g.-hippocampus, hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenals) and their respective modulators, receptors, or binding proteins possibly will all have an effect on salivary cortisol measures. Possible fundamental mechanisms proposed leading to enhanced vagal activity and decrease cortisol. The drop in cortisol, sequentially, may give positive outcome. Methods: Healthy medical student volunteers (N=40), males and females, ranged in age from 18 to 25 years (mean age: 23.3years), participated in the present study. They are divided in two groups one is Yoga Group and second is Control Group. Each group consist 20 subjects. Morning saliva samples were collected of both groups. Levels of cortisol in the saliva samples were determined and compared with levels in comparison samples of saliva obtained after three-month of yoga practice. Results: In all subjects who received yoga (n=20), the change in salivary cortisol level was significant (10.27±2.54 ng/ml; 4.023±1.82ng/ml; P= 0.00); it was not so in those who were not practicing yoga (11.43±3.77ng/ml; 10.27±2.54 ng/ml; P=0.06). Salivary cortisol level significantly decreased and reacted positively to yoga practicing subjects. Conclusions: The effort of comparing the effects of yoga on salivary cortisol seems to indicate that it is a promising modality for stress management. Everyone should practice yoga for stress management to improve their day today life because yoga as one of the approaches of stress reduction.

The effect of laughter yoga on perceived stress, burnout, and life satisfaction in nurses during the pandemic: A randomized controlled trial

“…It has been noted that the body physically responds to laughter, such as through an increase in the level of beta-endorphins, a decrease in stress hormones such as adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol, an improvement in mental processes, and a decrease in blood pressure and muscle tension [ 32 , 42 ]. In the literature, studies have reported that laughter yoga also provides a significant decrease in salivary cortisol, which is considered a biological marker of stress [ [43] , [44] , [45] , [46] ]. In meta-analysis studies, it was found that laughter therapy is an effective complementary method and reduces anxiety levels [ 28 , 47 ].…”

Effect of laughter yoga on mental symptoms and salivary cortisol levels in first‐year nursing students: A randomized controlled trial

“…In a study by Chang et al (2013) on seventh‐grade adolescents in Thailand, they found that laughter yoga provides a significant decrease in cortisol levels. Berk et al (2008) stated that laughter yoga provides a decrease in cortisol levels in healthy adult men, whereas Pandey et al (2016) found that laughter yoga significantly decreased salivary cortisol in medical students. Furthermore, Nagendra et al (2007) found that laughter yoga significantly reduced cortisol levels in office staff, whereas Fujısawa et al (2018) found that laughter yoga significantly reduced salivary cortisol in university students.…”

“…Students may be absent from school as a result of the stress they experience and that they can leave their nursing education without completing their education (Gebhart et al, 2020). Salivary cortisol is a possible biological marker of psychological stress (Pandey et al, 2016). For this reason, experimental studies that evaluate the successful stress coping techniques of nursing first grade students with an objective parameter such as salivary cortisol should be conducted in order to prepare for this challenging profession during the nursing education process (Arabacı et al, 2015; Gebhart et al, 2020).…”

“…Studies have evaluated the effect of laughter yoga on salivary cortisol (Fujısawa et al, 2018; Lee & Lee, 2020; Pandey et al, 2016) and on mental symptoms such as depression and anxiety (Dolgoff‐Kaspar et al, 2012; Ghodsbin et al, 2014; Memarian et al, 2017; Yazdani et al, 2014). Studies evaluating the effects of laughter yoga on two variables together are needed in the literature rather than studies evaluating the effects of laughter yoga on both mental symptoms and salivary cortisol separately.…”

A Complementary Approach to Midwifery Practices: Universal Expression of Emotional Language, Laughter Yoga

“…Sağlık profesyonellerinin sağlığı geliştirmede kullanabilecekleri bir uygulama olan kahkaha yogası birçok alanda kullanıldığı gibi kadın sağlığı alanında da kullanılmıştır. 21,[34][35][36][37] Yapılan çalışmalarda kahkaha yogası pospartum dönemdeki kadınların doğum sonu yorgunluklarını azaltmada ve immün cevapları üzerine olumlu etkiler oluşturmuştur. 38,39 Menopoz dönemindeki kadınlara uygulanan kahkaha yogası da kadınların iyimserliğini ve benlik saygısını artırmış, depresyon düzeylerini azaltmıştır.…”