Improvement of Sympathovagal Balance by Yoga Could be Essential in Achieving Effective Therapeutic Outcome in Antenatal Depression

Abstract

Pregnancy is a unique physiological state having alterations in almost all systems of the body including cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, hematological, hemodynamic and neurological functions. Recently, autonomic changes and psychological functional alterations have been more observed in pregnancy disorders. Increase in incidence of stress and depression in perenatal period has already been widely reported. Autonomic changes in pregnancy and its dysfunction in depression are well documented. However, there is paucity of evidence associating cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction to stress, depression and mood disorders in pregnancy, and more specifically later part of during antepartum period. Pregnancy is associated with multiple metabolic, circulatory and mental changes and these changes make pregnant women vulnerable to many health conditions which can be detrimental to maternal and neonatal wellbeing.^[1]