Praying regularly may be associated with a lower risk of stroke, but the relationship is not proven to be directly causal; evidence points to several pathways — mental health benefits, stress reduction, healthier behaviors, and stronger social support — that could help lower stroke risk when prayer is part of a broader pattern of healthy, stress-reducing practices[2].
People who pray regularly often report lower levels of depression and anxiety, and reduced psychological distress, which are known risk factors for cardiovascular disease including stroke[1][2]. Psychological distress and chronic stress raise blood pressure and inflammation, two key contributors to stroke risk, while activities that reduce stress can lower these physiological risks[2].
Prayer can function as a form of focused attention or mindfulness. Practices that cultivate attention and reduce rumination improve emotion regulation and stress responses, which in turn can benefit cardiovascular health[2]. In other words, praying may work similarly to meditation or other contemplative practices by training attention and calming the nervous system[2].
Prayer also commonly takes place within religious communities, providing social support and a sense of belonging; social connection is linked to healthier lifestyles and better management of chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, both major stroke risk factors. Participation in spiritual care or prayer activities has been shown to reduce psychological distress among patients in medical settings, which can improve treatment adherence and overall health behaviors[1].
Several caveats are important:
– Most studies are observational and cannot prove that prayer itself directly prevents strokes; unmeasured factors (for example, overall lifestyle, diet, exercise, socioeconomic status, and access to healthcare) may explain some or all of the association between religious practice and lower risk[1][2].
– Effects depend on how prayer is practiced: private contemplative prayer that reduces stress may differ in effect from other forms of religious activity[2].
– Prayer is one potentially helpful component of a broader approach; medical prevention of stroke still depends on controlling blood pressure, managing diabetes, avoiding smoking, maintaining healthy weight and activity, and following medical advice.
If someone finds prayer helpful for reducing stress or improving mood, it can be a valuable, low-cost adjunct to conventional stroke prevention strategies because it may lower stress-related physiology and support healthy behaviors and social ties[1][2].
Sources
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12703117/
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2025/12/how-to-pay-attention/
