title: Influence of yoga on blood coagulation.
abstract: Yoga is known to induce beneficial effects on physiological, biochemical and mental functions in man. Its effects on blood coagulation are not known. A study was conducted in seven previously untrained male adults who underwent a combination of yogic exercises, daily for one hour, over a period of four months. Parameters of blood coagulation were estimated before and after the end of yoga training. The following changes were observed: Fibrinolytic activity increased significantly with a concomitant fall in fibrinogen; activated partial thromboplastin time and platelet aggregation time were prolonged; blood and plasma platelets showed a rise; and both haemoglobin and heamatocrit were raised at the end of the training. These findings suggest that yoga induces a state of blood hypocoagulability. The impact of yoga on prevention of cardiovascular and thrombotic disorders is obvious.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D006400:Hematocrit; D006452:Hemoglobinometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D010976:Platelet Count; D015013:Yoga