Patient Programs

For many hospital patients, the road to health is made more difficult by the feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and the frustration of being ill, particularly if it is a chronic health issue. HeartMath provides simple and practical tools to successfully manage emotions in the moment so patients can make healthy life choices, communicate more effectively, and feel more satisfied with those who care for them. With HeartMath's Patient Program, patients and family members internalise and sustain skills to find more balance in the midst of difficulty, mobilising their energy in service of the healing process.

Emotions, Stress and Disease
Emotions, positive and negative, can profoundly influence physical well-being. High stress levels, which are epidemic in our environment, are associated with the development of a variety of disease states. Autonomic dysfunction is a contributor to such important conditions as High Blood Pressure, Heart Attacks, Strokes, Congestive Heart Failure, and Abnormal Heart Rhythms.

Patient Populations That Will Benefit
Disease states associated with Autonomic Dysfunction:

• Arrhythmia
• Hypertension
• Coronary artery disease
• Diabetes Depression
• Irritable bowel
• Asthma
• Fibromyalgia

Symptoms associated with Autonomic Dysfunction:

• Panic Attacks
• Fatigue
• Chemical Sensitivity
• Migraine
• Anxiety
• Dizziness
• Premenstrual Syndrome
• Sleep Disorder

HeartMath's Patient Program
This is a step-by-step process to help patients transform their in-the-moment stress responses and empower them to choose healthier behaviors. HeartMath programs have been shown to improve psychosocial functioning, balance the autonomic nervous system and hormonal system, boost hormonal immunity, decrease anxiety, reduce blood pressure, and decrease a variety of other disease symptoms.

HeartMath Improves Patient Health
HeartMath tools result in enhanced cortical facilitation (upper brain function), positive mood, and peacefulness, and may reduce usage and reliance on other therapies and drugs. Using HeartMath tools, people feel less anxious in the midst of a challenging health situation.

Today, people want things that are both easy to learn and give fast results. HeartMath technology accomplishes both of these. It can be applied anytime, anywhere—in the car, at your desk, etc.

Compliance Factor
Compliance is high because balancing the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) feels good, motivating people to do it. Difficult life situations themselves are the built-in reminders to continue use.

Documented Research and Case Studies
HeartMath research has been published in the American Journal of Cardiology, Stress Medicine, Journal of the American College of Cardiology and other peer-reviewed journals.

Hypertension—In one study all hypertensive subjects were able to normalise their blood pressure within six months without other modifications (diet, exercise, and medication) to their regimen.

Immune System—The tools emWave® and Heart Lock-In® were shown in one study to significantly increase IgA levels (an antibody-like substance produced in the Gastrointestinal Tract), while feelings of anger trigger reduction in IgA for up to 6 hours. Study participants were able to self-generate increases in IgA up to 140%.

Hormonal System—After four weeks intervention, participants averaged 100% increase in usable DHEA (the vitality hormone) and a 23% decrease in cortisol (the stress hormone).

Reduced Physical Symptoms—Among participants who reported feeling physical symptoms of stress such as fatigue, sleeplessness, indigestion, body aches, and being tired often or much of the time, there was a 40% reduction in fatigue and a 41% reduction in feeling tired. Among this group, sleeplessness decreased 39%, indigestion by 47% and body aches by 41%.

Reduced Emotional Symptoms—Among participants who reported feeling angry, annoyed, anxious, worried, depressed, and uneasy often or much of the time, there was a 50% drop in anger, a 50% decrease in annoyance, a 47% reduction in anxiety, a 46% decline in worry, a 47% decline in depression, and 57% less uneasiness.

Enhanced Well-Being—Increases in study group compared to control group over an 18 week period included: peacefulness (19%), vitality (14%), communication effectiveness (14%), and social support (17%).

Compliance—71% of program participants were still using the tools six months after a one-day program, and 85% reported significant improvements in health status.

In Summary
Evidence suggests that the application of practical stress and emotional management interventions will significantly benefit patients by improving quality of life, reducing symptomatology, and decreasing health care costs by minimising the demand for health services and the development of complications such as cardiovascular disease.

For more information about our Hospital Programs contact:

For Information
Telephone: (02) 9412 2500 (Australia)
Telephone: +61 2 9412 2500 (International)
E-Mail: info@macquarieinstitute.com

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HeartMath and Heart Lock-In are a registered trademark of the Institute of HeartMath. emWave is a registered trademark of Quantum Intech, Inc.