Can focusing on pain actually help suppress it? Maybe, say researchers in a new video called "Meditation: Addressing Pain" from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Show
By concentrating on pain during mindfulness and meditation practices, we may be able to lessen our emotional responses to it. This is according to Richard J. Davidson, Ph.D. He is the founder and director of the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In the video, which is on the NCCIH's YouTube channel, Dr. Davidson speaks to former NCCIH Director Josephine Briggs, Ph.D., and explains how our brains process pain and how researchers are working to better understand it. Image credit: iStock September 26, 2018 Use of Yoga, Meditation, and Chiropractors Among U.S. Adults Aged 18 and OverNCHS Data Brief No. 325, November 2018 PDF Versionpdf icon (401 KB) | Visual Abstract Tainya C. Clarke, Ph.D., M.P.H.; Patricia M. Barnes, M.A.; Lindsey I. Black, M.P.H.; Barbara J. Stussman, B.A.; and Richard L. Nahin, Ph.D., M.P.H. Key findingsData from the National Health Interview Survey, 2012 and 2017
Complementary health is the use of holistic or unconventional medicine with mainstream Western medicine for health and wellness (1,2). Past research has identified yoga, meditation, and seeing a chiropractor as some of the most commonly used approaches (3). This report examines changes over time in the percentage of adults who used yoga, meditation, and chiropractors in the past 12 months, as well as variation by sex, age, and race and Hispanic origin. Keywords: complementary health, alternative health, National Health Interview Survey Did the use of yoga, meditation, and chiropractors change from 2012 to 2017?Increases were seen from 2012 to 2017 in the use of complementary health approaches in the past 12 months among U.S. adults for all modalities examined (Figure 1). The use of yoga increased from 9.5% to 14.3%, while the use of meditation increased more than threefold from 4.1% in 2012 to 14.2% in 2017. The use of chiropractors increased from 9.1% to 10.3%. Figure 1. Age-adjusted percentage of adults who used yoga, meditation, or a chiropractor during the past 12 months, by year: United States, 2012 and 2017
1Significantly different from 2012 (p < 0.05). Was there a difference in the use of yoga, meditation, and chiropractors by sex?In 2017, women were more than twice as likely to use yoga in the past 12 months (19.8%) compared with men (8.6%) (Figure 2). Women were also more likely than men to use meditation (16.3% compared with 11.8%) and see a chiropractor (11.1% compared with 9.4%). Figure 2. Age-adjusted percentage of adults who used yoga, meditation, or a chiropractor during the past 12 months, by sex: United States, 2017
1Significantly different from men (p < 0.05). Did the use of yoga, meditation, and chiropractors vary by age group?The use of yoga in the past 12 months was highest among adults aged 18–44 (17.9%) and decreased with increasing age (Figure 3). The use of yoga among adults aged 18–44 was more than twice that of adults aged 65 and over (6.7%). The use of meditation was higher among adults aged 45–64 (15.9%) compared with those aged 18–44 and 65 and over (13.4% each). Similarly, the proportion of adults aged 45–64 who saw a chiropractor (11.4%) was greater than those aged 18–44 (9.9%) and 65 and over (9.5%). Figure 3. Percentage of adults who used yoga, meditation, or a chiropractor during the past 12 months, by age: United States, 2017
1Significantly different from age group 18–44 (p < 0.05). Did the use of yoga, meditation, and chiropractors vary by race and Hispanic origin?In 2017, non-Hispanic white adults were more likely to use yoga (17.1%) and see a chiropractor (12.7%) in the past 12 months compared with Hispanic (8.0% and 6.6%, respectively) and non-Hispanic black (9.3% and 5.5%, respectively) adults (Figure 4). The use of meditation was higher among non-Hispanic white (15.2%) and non-Hispanic black (13.5%) adults compared with Hispanic (10.9%) adults. Figure 4. Age-adjusted percentage of adults who used yoga, meditation, or a chiropractor during the past 12 months, by race and Hispanic origin: United States, 2017
1Significantly different from non-Hispanic white adults (p < 0.05). SummaryThe use of yoga, meditation, and chiropractors in the past 12 months among U.S. adults increased from 2012 to 2017. Of these, yoga and meditation had the largest percentage-point change. Women were more likely than men to use yoga, meditation, and chiropractors. Additionally, the use among non-Hispanic white adults was generally higher than among Hispanic and non-Hispanic black adults. The pattern of use by age varied for each approach. Yoga was the most popular approach used in 2012 and 2017, with 9.5% (22.4 million) and 14.3% (35.2 million) adult users, respectively. In 2012, seeing a chiropractor was as popular as yoga, followed by meditation; however, the popularity of meditation surpassed that of seeing a chiropractor to become the second most-used approach among those examined in 2017. In recent years, the practice of yoga and meditation has become more mainstream (4–7). Most adults who see a chiropractor have health insurance coverage for this approach (8). DefinitionsChiropractor: A person who performs hands-on therapy concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, primarily the spine, and its function. Meditation: The act of engaging in mental exercise to reach a heightened level of spiritual awareness or mindfulness. This report uses a composite measure based on responses to three questions regarding the use of: 1) mantra meditation, including transcendental meditation, relaxation response, and clinically standardized meditation; 2) mindfulness meditation, including vipassana, Zen Buddhist meditation, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy; and 3) spiritual meditation, including centering prayer and contemplative meditation. Race and Hispanic origin: Based on responses to two questions that determine Hispanic or Latino origin and race. Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin may be of any race. Non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black refer to persons with a single race group indicated. Data for persons of other races or with more than one race group indicated are not shown in this report. Yoga: A combination of breathing exercises, meditation, and physical postures, of Hindu origin, used to achieve a state of relaxation and balance of mind, body, and spirit. Data source and methodsData from the 2012 and 2017 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were used for this analysis. NHIS is a nationally representative, continuously fielded cross-sectional household interview survey from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), which produces annual estimates of the health of the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population. Interviews are conducted in respondents’ homes, with follow-ups to complete interviews conducted by telephone if needed. For further information about NHIS, including the questionnaire, visit the NHIS website. Information on the use of complementary health approaches was collected from a sample of adults aged 18 and over who participated in the 2012 (n = 34,525) and 2017 (n = 26,742) NHIS adult alternative medicine or complementary health supplements, respectively. The percentage of adults who saw a chiropractor in the past 12 months was obtained from the “Adult Access to Health Care and Utilization” section of the Sample Adult Core questionnaire for both years. Analyses were conducted using SAS-callable SUDAAN version 11.0.3 (9), which accounts for the complex sample design of NHIS. All estimates for adults were weighted using the annual sample weights for adults. Data weighting procedures are described in more detail elsewhere (10). The Taylor series linearization method was chosen for estimation of standard errors. Trend in use of yoga by age was evaluated using the Joinpoint Regression Program (11). Differences between percentages were evaluated using two-sided significance tests at the 0.05 level with no adjustments made for multiple comparisons. All estimates in this report meet NCHS standards of reliability as specified in “National Center for Health Statistics Data Presentation Standards for Proportions” (12). About the authorsTainya C. Clarke and Lindsey I. Black are with the National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health Interview Statistics; Patricia M. Barnes is with the National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Research and Methodology; and Barbara J. Stussman and Richard L. Nahin are with the National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. References
Suggested citationClarke TC, Barnes PM, Black LI, Stussman BJ, Nahin RL. Use of yoga, meditation, and chiropractors among U.S. adults aged 18 and over. NCHS Data Brief, no 325. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2018. Copyright informationAll material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated. National Center for Health StatisticsCharles J. Rothwell, M.S., M.B.A., Director Division of Health Interview StatisticsStephen J. Blumberg, Ph.D., Director Division of Research and MethodologyJennifer D. Parker, Ph.D., Director What are purposes of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health?Mission. The mission of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) is to define, through rigorous scientific investigation, the usefulness and safety of complementary and integrative interventions and their roles in improving health and health care.
What is meditation NIH?The term “meditation” refers to a variety of practices that focus on mind and body integration and are used to calm the mind and enhance overall well-being.
What is the difference between complementary and integrative health?Complementary medicine is used together with mainstream medical care. An example is using acupuncture to help with side effects of cancer treatment. When health care providers and facilities offer both types of care, it is called integrative medicine. Alternative medicine is used instead of mainstream medical care.
Does meditation lower blood pressure?Meditation techniques appear to produce small yet meaningful reductions in blood pressure either as monotherapy or in conjunction with traditional pharmacotherapy. Transcendental meditation and mindfulness-based stress reduction may produce clinically significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
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