Stress Reduction Training to Improve Sleep Quality, Stress Physiology & Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Risk Markers
Stress, Psychological, Sleep, Inflammation
About this trial
This is an interventional prevention trial for Stress, Psychological focused on measuring Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Meditation, Psychological stress, Sleep quality, Cardiovascular disease, Inflammation
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Willing to participate in an 8 week stress reduction training program
- Between 18 and 65 years old
- Generally in good health and not taking medication
- Able to speak and read English
- Willing to provide informed consent
- Able to access the internet
- Able to attend 4 study visits at Duke University Medical Center
Exclusion Criteria:
- Younger than 18 years old/Older than 65
- Asthma
- Allergies
- Arthritis
- Autoimmune disease (Lupus)
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular disease, heart attack, or atherosclerosis
- Diabetes or High Blood Sugar (>124 mg/dl)
- Hypertension or high blood pressure (140/90 mmHg)
- High cholesterol (>240 mg/dl)
- Obesity (Body Mass Index >30)
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Mitral Valve Prolapse, or Heart Murmurs
- Irregular Menstrual Cycles (Peri-Menopause Excluded. Menopause may be included.)
- Skin conditions, such as eczema or psoriasis (acne may be included)
- Sleep Apnea
- Depression, anxiety, substance use, or any other mental health diagnosis
- Sleep aids like Tylenol PM or Ambien on a regular basis
- Medication for allergies or asthma on a regular basis
- Aspirin or baby Aspirin on a regular basis
- Oral contraceptives or birth control (women only)
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Flu shot within past 3 weeks
- Underweight (BMI < 18.5)
- Current smoker
- >1 alcoholic drink/day (women)/ >2 alcoholic drinks/day (men)
- Hospitalized within the last 3 months
- Treated for any infections within the last 3 months
- Current meditation practice >1x/month
- Previously taken a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course
- Participation in any other research studies in the past year that involved drugs or taking blood
- Recently donated blood. (500 cc's in last 8 wks)
Sites / Locations
- Duke Integrative Medicine
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Active Comparator
Meditation
No meditation
Both arms will undergo 8-weeks of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training. The experimental arm will be randomly assigned to practice meditation immediately following the emotional stress task in the lab during the post-MBSR lab visit.
Both arms will undergo 8-weeks of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training. The active comparator arm will be randomly assigned to not practice meditation, but rather listen to a non-meditative audio track of equal length, immediately following the emotional stress task in the lab during the post-MBSR lab visit.