Heart attack is the leading cause of death in America in both males and females. A heart attack occurs when the flow of blood to the heart muscle is interrupted. Blood clots called ‘thrombi’ are responsible for suddenly blocking the coronary artery in the majority of heart attacks. The build up of plaque and a constriction or spasm of the coronary arteries are often contributing factors.
Sign Chi Do was designed to increase oxygen in the blood resulting in relaxed blood vessels. When the blood vessels are relaxed, that is, not constricted, more oxygen gets to the heart muscle. This is accomplished in two different ways. First, the deep diaphragmatic breathing exercises practiced in Sign Chi Do increase oxygen in the blood resulting in relaxation of the blood vessels. Secondly, the calm repetitive movements of Sign Chi Do stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system to release certain chemicals called neuropeptides. These chemicals help the body to conserve energy by lowering the blood pressure and heart rate. This decreases the workload on the heart, which helps to ward off heart disease.
It is important to note that Sign Chi Do can be effective in people who already have heart disease as well as those who wish to prevent it!
