Effects of Yogic exercise on Haematological parameters in medical students under examination stress

Abstract

Introduction: Yoga through its techniques of asanas, and pranayama results in a positive effect in the management of stress among teenagers. Pranayama has an effect in regulating stress which in turn is reflected by increased performance in enhancing the workload capacity, because of increased ability for handling stress, which in turn reflected by increase in subjective scores. Haematological changes include changes in blood cell counts and haematocrit. On the basis of above statements, here I have chosen some Yogic asanas and pranayamas, with their benefits. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study is to find out the effect of Yogic exercise on Hematological parameters in medical students under examination stress. Material and Methods: 150 medical students of 17-24 years age group in the Santosh Medical College, Ghaziabad, were chosen depending on the Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria. They were divided into Control and Study group of 75 subjects each. The Haematological parameters of the Subjects were taken, 40 days before the examination and during examination, without and with yogic interventions, respectively. Statistical Evaluation: The statistical evaluation of this study was be done by using the software SPSS (Software Package of Social Studies), designed by the TISS (Tata Institute of Social Studies). Result: Total RBC count, Total WBC count and Haematocrit values are significantly increases (p<0.001) at the time of examination in study group subjects, but the same significantly decreases (p<0.001) at the time of examination in control group subjects. Total Platelet count significantly increases (p<0.001) in control group subjects, but this increase is insignificant (p=0.736) in study group subjects. Conclusion: From this study here we concluded that the practice of yogic asanas and pranayama not only reduces these adverse effects of examination stress, but also produces beneficiary effects on haematological parameters, that will help the medical students to perform better in examination.