The phenomenon of stress and stress related diseases has grown in alarming proportion the world over during the last decade.
The most common diseases due to a stressful way of living are coronary artery disease(CAD), cancer, asthma ,migraine, ulcers , hay fever, infectious diseases,chronic low back pain, urinary tract infections, Parkisons Disease and Multiple Sclerosis.
As stress and strain are the results of our mind and its reactions to the situations, learning to manage the level of disturbance at the mental level is a key to controlling stress.
The ancient philosophical concepts and techniques like Yoga help in a big way in fighting the stress and stress related diseases. Yoga is a cure for many diseases - diabetes, obesity and psychiatric illnesses and offers immense benefits to alleviate heart diseases.
Heart disease, a problem of modern times is psychosomatic in nature. Improper lifestyle, faulty diet and negative thinking play an important part in triggering heart disease. Our thoughts, feelings and emotions affect our body and mind. Negative emotions spark chemical processes throughout the entire body. Any irritation in the lining of arterial walls - which includes high levels of fat in the blood, smoking and high blood pressure- can trigger heart diseases.
Though advances in therapy like angioplasty, stenting and by-pass surgery address effectively the problems of individual patients, they are expensive and are beyond the reach of the majority of patients in our country. Moreover these procedures are focused upon treating the manifestations of the disease and not on the underlying causes of the disease. They do not act on the root cause of the problem. They can only treat the current blocks without being able to eliminate the future blocks which could be in the process of developing.
This is where yoga plays an important role. Yoga focuses more holistically on four main aspects- Achaar, Vichaar, Ahaar and Vihaar.
Any imbalance in any of these aspects results in disharmony of body, mind and soul. This paves the way for diseases. Disease, including heart disease, is only a result of our constant abuse and neglect of our body and mind.
'Achaar' means character or conduct. It gives weight to moral values like truthfulness, humbleness and compassion. 'Vichaar' means our thoughts. Our thoughts have a huge impact on our life.
Having a positive attitude makes us feel good about ourselves and the life we lead. 'Vihaar' is nothing but our behaviour. Ones behaviour is related to his thoughts which depend on his character.
A positive attitude leads to good thoughts and good behaviour. Lastly, 'Ahaar' is the food we eat.
A Yogic lifestyle thus not only focuses on diet and exercise but also on the overall conduct & behaviour of an individual. It also closely unites the mind and the body to bring about a positive approach towards life.
Yoga has an important role in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases that includes recurrence of heart attacks, hypertension and coronary heart diseases. Yoga influences the hypothalamus directly, the area of the brain that controls endocrine activity, and helps prevent heart attacks.
The curative benefits of Yoga enhances heart health, lowers blood pressure, reduces chronic stress, boosts the immune system and enhances cognitive ability.
The Yoga Institute, Santacruz, Mumbai, has been working on these lines for a number of years. Many cardiac patients have benefited from the training they obtained at the institute.
A study, published in the Journal of The Association of Physicians of India (JAPI) based on the studies done at the Yoga Institute establishes the reversibility of heart disease through yoga. Study was on angiographically proven CAD patients, of whom 71 formed the study group and 42 the control group.
They were assessed clinically, by biochemical parameters, stress myocardial perfusion and function studies and coronary angiography and on psychological parameters. The study group patients were given a family based Yoga Programme which included, control of risk factors, dietary modifications and stress management for a period of one year. The patients were assessed at baseline, at frequent intervals and at the end of one year.
At the end of one year of yoga training, statistical significant changes (P<0.05) were found in serum total cholesterol (reduction by 23.3% in study group patients as compared to 4.4% in controls); serum LDL cholesterol (reduction of 26% in study group patients as compared to 2.6% in the control group), regression of disease (43.7% of study group patients v/s 31% control group on MPI and 70.4% of study group v/s 28% of control group on angiography) arrest of progression (46.5% study group v/s 33.3% control group on MPI) and progression (9.9% of study group vs 35.7% of controls on MPI, 29.6%of study group v/s 60.0% of controls on angiography).
Some marked improvements were noticed in anxiety levels of patients. Controlled yoga combining calming and stimulating measures resulted in reduced serum cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride levels.
Genesis of coronary health camps
In 1987 Dr. S.R. Shah a cardiologist approached Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra, the Director of The Yoga Institute, to see if a union of modern science and the ancient wisdom of Yoga could bring about lifestyle changes and regression in coronary artery disease. This was the beginning of coronary health camps which benefited thousands of people.
The objective evaluations on Lipid Profiles, ECGs, and echo cardiograms were done, together with psychological evaluations. The results were published in books called "Yoga Therapy in Asthma, Diabetes and Heart Disease" and Yoga Daily Planner Heart Care".
These two day coronary camps included a detailed examination of the patients by cardiologist. When they arrived at the camp they brought their medical papers and were examined by a physician at the commencement of the camp. Close monitoring was done as they participated in the programme. There were talks and discussions by Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra and Hansaji Jayadeva Yogendra, Dean of the Institute and the President of the International Board of Yoga. There were also talks and discussions by Dr. S. R. Shah and many of the questions of the participants were answered. Appropriate practices for cardiac patients were taught.
In 1999, Dr. Shekhar Ambardekar, cardiologist volunteered to assess the work of the institute in the capacity of an external auditor. All patients who had completed the cardiac camps in the past were invited for re-evaluation and assessment.
Dr. Jamshed D. Sunawala, helped in getting repeat angiographies for the seven people who had previously had an angiography done. The results were presented in a programme of cardiologist. A programme of cardiologists was held and the proceedings were published in the journal Yoga and Total Health. This evoked great interest and it was proposed that at a further detailed research on the effect of yogic lifestyle on ischaemic heart disease should be commissioned.
The Caring Heart Project
Understanding the efficacy of the cardiac camps , The International Board of Yoga decided to systematically record the positive progress of coronary artery disease patients in a programme - "The Caring Heart Project."
Design of the study
It was a randomized parallel group assessor blind study.
● One group of 42 patients received medicine prescribed by their doctors but without intensive yoga training.
● Second group of 71 had drugs except Statins by the Cardiologists, a period of one year duration which consisted of actually bringing out lifestyle changes and intensive yoga training.
However about nine people from the study group and 18 people from the control group opted out of the study due to transfer or personal reasons.
Methodology
The patient's were initially called at the institute for a period of six weeks to show, teach and increase their awareness about right diet. The food was served to give them first hand Sattvic experience. The cholesterol level, blood pressure, diabetes and the heart ailments were not only kept under control but improvement was brought in these areas.
Strict daily routine was maintained adhering to recreational activities, relaxation of the body and the mind and changing-mental attitudes from negativity to positivity. These were achieved through lectures of qualified Yoga experts, dietician, psychiatrists, general practitioners and experienced cardiologists.
While Hansaji taught them how not to be tensed and stressed through talks,seasoned Yoga teachers taught various asanas and pranayamas. During every session, for half an hour the patients reported their yogic activities to the group in charge. Dr. Shantharam Shetty, family physician interacted on one-to-one basis, for the people who needed further explanations.
Dieticians,Naaznin Husein and Vijaya Magar delivered talks on different aspects of nutrition like calories, importance of fats, proteins, minerals and vitamins and explained even the cooking procedures to derive maximum benefit from sattvic food as against non-vegetarian, rajasic diet.
Psychiatrist Dr.Malay Dave explained the relationship of the mind to the cardiac problems in the human system. He also pointed out the role of thoughts and emotions on human behaviour. He explained, the functioning of the nervous system and its effect on the heart, stress, its meaning and impact on the thought process and how it creates physical, psychological and heart problems.
He also explained how recreation and the need for maintaining the right attitude towards difficult situations t so as to keep the mental health at optimum level of efficiency and drive away the disease factors.
Assessment of total health improvement was being regularly undertaken by Dr. S. Shetty who regularly guided and ensured that the patients did not neglect their yogic exercise or proper diet.
Dr Shekhar Ambardekar cautioned the participants on the risk factors like smoking, alcohol, fatty foods and constantly encouraged them to be independent to manage their health problems.
The families of the patients were also encouraged to be a part of the project so that they form a solid support system. They helped the heart patients in meeting their specific requirements and needs by ensuring timely food, medications etc.
On regular intervals, institute volunteers visited the participants families to assure them of the serious efforts being put in order to help their own near and dear ones. Various recipes of different types of food were demonstrated.
They were also taught how to do various asanas and pranayamas so that they could also improve their own health and assist in the progress of the patient.
In addition to physical and mental activities , there were also g spiritual activities as an add on to holistic health. This was done by making them to do small social services, without expecting anything in return.
Every Sunday morning there was an hour long "Satsang" in which people who had re-gained their health shared their experiences. Moreover some well-known dignitaries also talked on value - based lifestyle.
After one and a half months and at regular intervals , the progress of the patient was re-assessed based on different parameters.
The all round changes and improvement in the patients encouraged the family members also to participate in all these activities. They also gained on different parameters which helped in the , overall attitudinal changes within the family.
After one year all the medical tests like Myocardial Perfusion Imaging and Angiography were undertaken to reaffirm progress or complete reversal of coronary blockages.
As per the Quality Of Life Analysis, there was a remarkable improvement in the quality of life of the cardiac patients as compared to the survey carried out before they got introduced to Yoga. The correlation between the psyche and soma was derived from the 'Quality Of Life' analysis chart and the result was indicative of the fact that the mind has an effect on the body and vice versa and this is exactly what Yoga teaches us. According to the yogis, all illnesses originate from the mind. Yoga thus perfectly works on the unison of the psyche and the soma to achieve an overall development of the individual by working on the individual as a whole.
Yoga , a culture of consciousness
As disease is a manifestation of underlying disharmony in the mind- body domain, a Yogic way of life offers a solution to elevate the health of body, mind and soul.
More and more people are realizing, that Yoga is neither just a bundle of asanas, nor is it just meditation. It is a culture of consciousness. Therapy is a by product of Yoga and not its primary aim.
Asanas are just one step the eight -fold path of Yoga and while they can help no doubt , changes have to be brought about in one' lifestyle to experience well -being and good health. To experience good health , positive changes have to be brought about at the very root, in our Aahar, Vihar, Achar and Vichar.
Recurrence of heart problems can be curbed by following a Yogic lifestyle and regular practice of asanas. While stress is known to increase the coronary spasm,the techniques, complemented with the other aspects of Yoga,can relax the spasm in blood vessels, bring down the blood pressure and the heart rate. These changes are conducive for a healthy heart.
In addition, mental relaxation through meditation and Yoga contribute immensely in offsetting arteriosclerosis . Thus, owing to its many positive effects- direct and indirect on the cardiovascular system, Yoga assumes a pivotal role in heart care.
Says Dr Jayadeva Yogendra, " The current belief in lifestyle and change in attitudes to prevent cardiac disorders is a happy one. Yoga is no more and no less than a better way of living. Wholesome dietary habits , positive forms of physical exercises, healthy routines, adequate rest and sleep and a balanced state of mind generating right kind of attitudes are a guarantee against sudden and severe heart ailments".
" But in veering round to Yogic lifestyle , we may have to increasingly depend on non -materialistic value judgements. Materialism is indeed the original cause of all misery including disease and a loss of a balanced state of mind. Loss of balance can occur when spiritual values are given a go by"
"The Caring Heart Project focuses on intensive work towards change of lifestyle and how it can result in beneficial effects at all levels of the human personality" , says Hansaji.