A new review paper from Australia has concluded regular meditation may have considerable benefits for both the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which accounts for 31 per cent of all deaths in Australia. The authors reviewed a wide range of published research specifically focused on the use of transcendental meditation for reducing stress in patients with heart conditions or risk factors known to be associated with coronary events such as high blood pressure, depression, diabetes or metabolic syndrome. The evidence suggested that meditation produces distinct physical effects in the body and positively improves many risk factors associated with CVD. The authors conclude meditation may significantly reduce CVD events and improve quality of life, and has considerable economic benefits related to healthcare costs. As such, meditation should be an integral part of a mainstream healthcare approach for CVD.