A new study published in BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care has recently revealed that 20 minutes of mindful breathing can effectively reduce the intensity and unpleasantness of cancer pain and the risk of associated anxiety.
Researchers have suggested that mindful breathing can enhance traditional pain relief methods and expand the range of options that are currently available to cancer patients.
Researchers said that 30-40% of cancer patients in the world experience moderate to severe pain due to tumor compression, neuropathic mechanisms, and the side effects of treatment.
Even though there are advancements in pain management and drugs, inadequate pain control remains a significant challenge for clinicians.
Researchers are increasingly recognizing the value of mindfulness-based interventions in complementary treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy, massage, acupuncture, and exercise. But this current research on the effectiveness of mindfulness for pain relief has focused on short-term programs or non-cancer patients.
Previous research has shown that more than 10 minutes of mindfulness breathing might effectively relieve pain. So, researchers wanted to check if a 20-minute session of mindfulness breathing can also provide the same relief.
In this study, researchers involved 40 40 inpatients with various types of cancer. These people had moderate to severe pain scores of 4 or more. These people were divided into two groups such as the breathing session group and the listening session group.
The breathing session group consisted of 21 people who did a mindful breathing session that was guided by a trained doctor. This session briefly explained mindfulness concepts and practices, followed by 20 minutes of mindful breathing. The four steps were identified and followed: the mind returned to the body, and the body relaxed from the head to the feet. On the other hand, the listening session group consisted of 19 individuals who underwent a 20-minute doctor-led supportive listening session. During this session, they were asked about their illness experiences using semi-structured questions.
Researchers measured the intensity and unpleasantness of patient pain using the validated Numeric Rating Scale (0-10) before and after each intervention. They also assessed their mood by using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) with 14 items.
The hospital’s medical records were also accessed to retrieve background information and clinical data on cancer types, stages, and pain relief methods, including morphine.
This study is very important as it can help many people who are suffering from cancer. It shows that 20 minutes of mindful breathing can effectively reduce the intensity and unpleasantness of cancer pain and reduce the risk of associated anxiety. Hence, healthcare professionals should consider this study and suggest this to cancer patients. This can improve their health and save many lives.
