Publication:

Yoga is an effective technique of stress reduction within the medical population: a biochemical study in MBBS students of BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

Background Medicine is a profession with high-stress prevalence. There are many stress markers but cortisol is one of the commonly used stress marker. Stress begins in the first year of medical carrier and increases with subsequent years of medical education. There is a decrease in overall academic performance and many health-related adverse effects due to stress. In this study, yoga was performed in the first year MBBS students of BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur and the impact of yoga in stress reduction was studied using serum cortisol as stress a marker.

Methods Study groups, yoga and control contained 26 and 27 subjects including male and female MBBS students. Yoga group practiced selected yogic asana, pranayama, and yoga nidra for 3 months. The control group as a stress marker had been kept in touch and allowed to go on their usual activity as before. Morning (8.00 AM to 9.00 AM) serum cortisol level was used as a stress marker in both group, pre and post-study.

Results There was a significant reduction in morning serum cortisol level (stress level) in yoga group (p-value = 0.0271) but there was no significant change in morning serum cortisol level of the control group (p-value = 0.8573).

Conclusions Yoga is an effective stress reduction technique for medical students. Yoga classes should be introduced in the first year of the medical carrier under the supervision of expert physiologists. This may lead to the implantation of a healthy lifestyle in our future healthcare providers. Yogic practice by health care providers may have long term positive impacts on our healthcare system.