
Stress activates the sympathetic nervous system — the fight-or-flight response — flooding the body with cortisol and adrenaline. Chronic stress keeps this system chronically activated, contributing to heart disease, immune suppression, digestive problems, and depression. Meditation activates the parasympathetic nervous system — the rest-and-digest response — counteracting the stress response at a physiological level. Studies show that regular meditators have lower baseline cortisol levels, lower blood pressure, and faster recovery from stressful events. The American Heart Association has recognized meditation as a reasonable complementary therapy for cardiovascular disease prevention.
Reference:
TaskLoco™ — The Sticky Note GOAT