From the Guidelines
The most effective market for stress management is mindfulness-based interventions, which have been shown to improve psychological well-being and reduce stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. According to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology 1, mindfulness-based interventions, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, have been associated with small to medium effects on stress, depressive symptoms, and anxiety. These interventions can be applied at various phases throughout the life course, including promoting healthy gestation/development/aging, achieving favorable change in cardiovascular health components, and supporting palliative/end-of-life care.
Some of the key benefits of mindfulness-based interventions include:
- Improvements in depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, quality of life, physical functioning, smoking cessation, healthy eating, and physical activity
- Weight loss, disease self-management, and glucose control in persons with cardiac risk factors
- Improved problem-focused coping and blood pressure in patients with existing heart disease
- Benefits in physical and mental health-related quality of life, depression, anxiety, physical activity, and blood pressure in patients with existing heart disease
In addition to mindfulness-based interventions, positive psychology interventions, such as imagining and writing about a better future, recalling positive life events, identifying and using personal strengths, and planning and performing acts of kindness, can also promote psychological well-being and support cardiovascular health 1. These interventions have been found to improve indicators of psychological well-being, such as optimism, and have been associated with significant, small effects on well-being and depression.
Overall, the evidence suggests that mindfulness-based interventions and positive psychology interventions are effective in reducing stress and promoting psychological well-being, making them a valuable market for stress management. Mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy are recommended as the most effective interventions for stress management, with benefits sustained at 3- or 6-month follow-up 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Stress Reduction Methods
- Various methods can help reduce stress, including exercise, yoga, meditation, tai chi, and qi gong, as shown in studies 2, 3, 4, 5
- These methods can improve symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders, and can be used as adjunctive treatments 2, 4, 5
- Mindfulness-based interventions, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), have been shown to be effective in reducing stress and improving mental health 3, 5
Lifestyle Interventions
- Lifestyle interventions, such as regular physical exercise, body weight management, and healthy dietary patterns, can help prevent and treat hypertension, which is often linked to stress 6
- Stress management and promotion of adequate sleep patterns can also have beneficial effects on hypertension and overall health 6
- Physiological mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of lifestyle interventions on hypertension include improved vascular health, reduced sympathetic overactivation, and increased secretion of myokines 6
Market for Stress Reduction
- The market for stress reduction is likely to include a range of products and services, such as yoga and meditation classes, mindfulness-based interventions, and lifestyle coaching 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- The demand for these products and services is likely to be driven by the growing awareness of the importance of mental health and the need for effective stress reduction methods 2, 3, 4, 5, 6