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.