Study: Prayer does Not Affect Primary Heart Outcomes

[BeeBee]

I'm sure most of us in this forum already know this, but this study shows that patients who were prayed for didn't fare any better than those who weren't...

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/InterventionalCardiology/tb/1362

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Also reported on the BBC website

The results of this study contradict earlier findings from the same team which suggested a drop of a quarter or more in "adverse outcomes" - including death, heart failure or heart attack.

However, that trial involved only 150 patients. Other research since has found no evidence of any benefits.

This study looked at 700 patients undergoing angiograms (an X-ray of the blood vessels) or other heart operations at nine hospitals across the US.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4681771.stm

[onager]

2. I've said it before and I'll say it again....

The only difference between prayer and carrying a rabbit's foot is a three-legged rabbit.

And I often wonder how in the Cheney they conduct these "scientific tests" of silent prayer. I read one place that a certain number of volunteers pray silently at the same time. But what if they're just dicking off and not really praying? What happens if, during the Appointed Scientific Prayer Time, there's a personal emergency...like a little kid scribbling JESUS SUX on the living-room wall? Does the person only get 99/100 % better because one supplicant slacked off?

I'll admit to being particularly cheesed off at religion today. I tried to get into the museum of the Library of Alexandria. Well, it's Friday, so the whole nation of Egypt comes to a halt until after the 2 PM prayer time.

First the Xians burned the place down, and now the Muslims won't let me into it.

A plague on both your houses (of worship)!!!

[progressoid]

3. I have a better idea for a prayer study...

Some industrious person needs to "study" the prayer effect from various major religions to see which one scores the highest. Once we see the data, we would know which god to pray to! It's scientifical!

[rexcat]

4. What a complete waste of time and money...

when are people ever going to realize that religious superstition has nothing to do with science.

[CarbonDate]

5. In other news, water wet....

...and 100% of all "prayer patients" go on to die, anyway.

If someone hears about a religion in which the adherents live to be 200, let me know; they might actually be on to something.