The docs: Meditate during stressful medical procedures

“I have so much to accomplish today,” Mahatma Gandhi once said, “that I must meditate for two hours instead of one.” That about sums up the far-reaching powers of meditation: It dispels stress and increases your ability to meet the challenges ahead — with grace and acceptance.

Fortunately, you don’t need to head to a mountaintop to meditate. Mindful meditation is something you can do anywhere, anytime — for a wide variety of reasons. We particularly like the newest research that shows it’s helpful to women undergoing a breast biopsy.

Researchers at Duke University Cancer Institute offered women getting a breast biopsy a recorded meditation focusing on positive emotions; the choice of soothing music or sounds; or standard care with a technologist offering casual conversation and support. The women listening to guided meditation reported significantly less pain during the procedure and less anxiety and fatigue.

Reducing pain is important in and of itself -- plus, if you feel pain or anxiety during such a procedure you may move, interfering with its effectiveness. You also might avoid important follow-up visits.

So, we suggest you (male or female) create a daily meditation routine. A new study out of Carnegie Mellon University reveals that it reduces an inflammatory biomarker — IL-6 — that is associated with stress. It can help control high blood pressure, and ease the symptoms of depression, anxiety and insomnia. You also can use meditation to bolster your immune system if you’re fighting the flu!

This story was originally published February 29, 2016 at 4:25 PM with the headline "The docs: Meditate during stressful medical procedures."