Levels of lactic acid, a potential by-product of tension and anxiety, drop after meditation. When practiced for an extended period of time, meditation has also been found to reduce oxygen consumption, slow the heart rate, and bring down blood pressure. Devotees of meditation often claim that it improves their memory and other mental abilities, protects them from disease, and reduces their use of alcohol and drugs. One study of mindful meditation found that it reduced the rate of relapse in those with emotional disorders. Meditation has even been found to increase the longevity of healthy older adults.
Pain relief is another of meditation's more successful applications.
While it can't completely eliminate discomfort, it does help people cope by reducing their tension and anxiety. For instance, the deep breathing exercises taught in childbirth classes are a form of meditation that helps women cope with the pain of labor and delivery. Some people may be temperamentally unable to achieve the tranquillity of meditation, and unsuccessful attempts may actually aggravate their stress and anxiety. Meditation can also prove counterproductive for people who are working on strengthening ego boundaries, releasing powerful emotions, or working through complex relationship problems. During the first ten minutes of meditation, as you unwind into a state of deep relaxation, it's possible for unsettling thoughts to pop up, disrupting relaxation.