Sunday the 27th September 2009 was followed globally as “World Heart Day”. Every year the 4th Sunday of September marks the World Heart Day as declared by WHO. This came into effect from the year 1999.It is organized by the World Heart Federation and its members. It is co-sponsered by WHO, UNESCO and United Nations Sport for Development and Peace. It aims at creating public awareness and to promote preventive measures to reduce the deadly killers of mankind i.e cardio-vascular disease(CVD) and stroke.
The World Heart Federation is a Geneva based non-governmental organization dedicated to the prevention and control of heart diseases and stroke especially in low and middle income countries. Every year they come up with a new theme and the theme of 2009 was ‘Work With Heart’. CVD’s have been the leading cause of death globally taking away about 17.2 million lives annually. According to WHO by 2015 almost the death toll from CVD’s will peak up to a disappointing 20 million per year worldwide and around 2 million deaths in India alone by 2010. About 40% of those deaths occur even before the patients reach the hospital for initial care.
Work With Heart: Heart is the most delicate organ in the body which carries a heavy burden of work throughout the life. It is regularly subjected to the ill effects as caused by our day to day physical activities, mental stress, abnormal diet and lifestyle, bad habits like smoking and untoward emotions. Economical recession, low productivity and fight for survival has off late contributed to these problems. It is our duty to take care of our heart by taking care of ourselves before it is too late and the heart gives way. Keeping health to work and working to keep health are mirror images of each other and compliment each other. Health at the work place is very important. Keeping in view that almost half of those who die of chronic diseases including the CVD’s are in their productive years, especially in low and middle income countries, the WHO and WHF have called for Work With Heart slogan so that the loss of millions of productive years every year shall be prevented. It also aims at increasing the rate of good health and productivity at work place. This can be achieved with the Work Place Health Promotion and Workplace Wellness Programmes. To achieve core business objectives the importance of employee health takes priority. Large organizations like WHO and World Economic forum have recognized its importance and are working with programmes to achieve it. It is high time for the employers of different companies to realize its importance and implement health promotion as a part of corporate plan. Many organizations are in favour of it but many more have to incorporate it especially in developing countries.
Workplace Wellness Programmes:
*Tips for Employer’s
- Offer information to workers using leaflets telling them about the risk factors of CVD’s and stroke
- Establish health policies: eg prohibition of using tobacco or smoking at work place
- Promote and encourage good food habits: Good quality of food at canteen, information about the caloric salt and fat content of the food, adding whole grain meals, more vegetables and fruits in the menu etc
- Encourage workers to take short breaks in between work and to exercise a bit for a few minutes to half and hour a day
- Make drinking water easily accessible
*Tips for Employees
- Healthy food intake: Make good choices at canteen or hotel menu, carry food from home if possible, take 3 to 4 servings of fruits and vegetables per day
- Exercise regularly: Don’t use lift-in fact use steps, take a small walk in between work during break, walk from home to bus stop or get down a stop early and walk to office.
- Use less salt and processed foods
- No to tobacco and alcohol
- Maintain a healthy weight… Neither put weight nor lose too much
- Visit a doctor or a health care professional and know your weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels, BMI and waist to hip ratio.
Prevention of CVD’s and Stroke:
- Knowing the risk factors and avoiding them: The risk factors of the CVD’s and stroke are as below mentioned by avoiding which 80% of premature deaths due to these alien diseases can be checked –
- Tobacco
- Incompatible foods and junk foods
- Sedentary living habits and improper or inadequate physical activities
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol and glucose levels
- Over weight and or obesity
- Inadequate use of fruits and vegetables
- Do’s to prevent CVD’S and Stroke:
Take diet low in saturated fats
Take adequate fruit and vegetable servings
Take 6 to 8 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated. Don’t opt for alternatives like coffee tea or hydrated drinks.
Include whole grain cereals and nuts in the diet
Include fish and fish oils in your diet if you are a non vegetarian
Use less salt and plenty of fibre rich food
Always prefer fresh and hot food. Avoid plenty of spices and oil rich foods
Regular exercises and workouts: Walking, swimming jogging ets for atleast half an hour(only after medical consultation if you have signs of
CVD or stroke or if you have a family history of the same)
Take breaks in between work
Keep distressed, get involved in group activities, go outing with family and friends on week ends or during holidays, play with your kids,
read good books, laugh, watch cartoons etc
Practice Yoga and meditate regularly
Avoid anger and aggression
Hear pleasant music
Ayurvedic Remedies to prevent CVD’s and Stroke :
Ayurveda helps you to keep your heart protected from many diseases. Ayurveda when resorted to early, can be handy in treating the problems of the heart too if you already have hired one. The below mentioned is a briefing of the Ayurvedic approach towards Hrudaya Vikaras or ailments related to heart-
- Shodana – Since all the diseases of systemic origin are caused due to morbid doshas according to Ayurvedic concepts, Shodana or purificatory measures to remove these doshas will be the primary approach. Vamana(emesis) and Virechana(purgation) are indicated in the treatment line of Hridroga. They should be brought about after a proper Snehana(oleation with medicated ghee or oils).
- Sthanika – Local treatments:
- Hrid Lepa: Application of medicated pastes in the form of anointments over the region of the heart
- Parisechana: Sprinkling of medicated decoctions or milk
- Hrid basti: Pooling of medicated oils or ghee within the chamber constructed over the cardiac region with flour
- Other Treatments:
- Shiro Dhara – Pouring in stream of medicated oils(taila dhara) or medicated buttermilk(takra dhara) to combat stress, hypertension etc associated with the cardiac ailments
- Kaya seka and Pizzhichil: Pouring in stream of medicated oils all over the body – provides a distressing and relaxing effect, improves blood flow, improves nerve conduction, relieves pains, brings about good sleep
- Shiro pichu(keeping a cotton swab soaked in oil on the crown of the head) and Shiro abhyanga(massaging the head with medicated oils)
- Pada abhyanga: Foot massage with medicated oils
- Shamana Chikitsa: Palliative treatment with oral medicines – The below mentioned medicines will be highly effective in prevention and treatment of cardiac problems-
*Partharishta(Arjunarishta), Punarnavarishtam, Draksharishtam, Arjuna Ksheerapaka
*Chandraprabha vati
*Hridyam Kashayam
* Patent products of AVN:
- Tab Norbeepee: In associated hypertension
- Tab Manomitram: In associated stress and anxiety, sleeplessness
- Cap Perment: In associated stress and anxiety, palpitations, disturbed sleep
- Tab Lomedus: In presence of high levels of cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides
- Tab Nervine: In associated stress and nervous disorders
- Tab Herboplex: As a revitalizer and anti-oxidant, relieves fatigue
- Cap Xerfer: In associated anemia, general weakness, palpitations
- Tab Punarnava Mandooram
We can definitely prevent the problems occurring to our heart if we plan and organize our lifestyle and diet properly and follow them sincerely.
Be happy…and Cheerful…Avoid tensions…and enjoy the life as it comes
Have a positive approach…and be negative to bad habits….
Remember…An Apple a day keeps a Doctor away….and of course…
Ayurveda is always there……
For details contact: Dr Raghuram Y.S,MD(ayu),
Consultant Physician
Arogya Ayurvedic Centre
12th cross,Jayanagar 7th Block/Off K.R. Road
Bangalore – 82
Landmark: Opp Upahar Sagar hotel/Behind Shastry’s Bakery
Ph: 9480071422/080-26766291
Mail us at: drraghuramys@gmail.com
drraghuram@avnarogya.in
Visit us at: www.avnarogya.in and www.arogyabangalore.com
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