Yoga can play a key role in the long-term management of lifestyle diseases
Yoga can play a key role in the long-term management of lifestyle diseases
On International Yoga Day, Heart Care Foundation of India raises awareness about the effectiveness of yoga in helping manage diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular irregularities
New Delhi, June 21, 2016: The United Nations General Assembly declared June 21st as the International Day of Yoga in December 2014. With Indian origins, yoga is a 5000-year-old physical, mental and spiritual practice aimed at the transformation of the mind, body and soul. Over the past few decades, Yoga has been widely accepted by people globally as a holistic approach to well-being and health. With established health benefits, yoga is also increasingly being prescribed by doctors as an add-on treatment with allopathic drugs to patients suffering from both psychosomatic and chronic degenerative diseases.
Over the past two decades chronic diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cancer, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), obesity and diabetes mellitus, have emerged as serious problems worldwide, and it has become important for older adults to maintain or improve their immune functions. Yoga has been reported to have positive effects on distress and functional performance in patients with chronic diseases and improves several immunological indicators.
Speaking about the benefits of yoga, Padma Shri Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal – President Heart Care Foundation of India and Honorary Secretary General IMA said, “Yoga helps patients fight lifestyle disease by reducing stress and building the body’s immunity. Yoga also helps slow down the deterioration of body organs. Pranayam and meditation if practiced regularly can help control high blood pressure. On International Yoga Day it is important to raise awareness about how while patients must continue to use allopethic medicines as recommended by their doctor, performing regular yoga can help them further fight dieases. It is important to note that yoga is generally low-impact and safe for healthy people when practiced appropriately under the guidance of a well-trained instructor. It is important that patients suffering from lifestyle diseases consult their doctor before starting a regular yoga routine.“
A few health benefits of yoga include:
1. Improves your flexibility Yoga helps us improve our flexibility thereby helping reduce or eliminate common aches and pains, helping improve blood circulation and thereby also boosting immunity 2. Builds muscle strength Strong muscles do more than look good. They also protect us from conditions like arthritis and back pain, and help prevent falls in elderly people. 3. Drains your lymphs and boosts immunity When you contract and stretch muscles, move organs around, and come in and out of yoga postures, you increase the drainage of lymph (a viscous fluid rich in immune cells). This helps the lymphatic system fight infection, destroy cancerous cells, and dispose of the toxic waste products of cellular functioning. 4. Increases your heart function Yoga and meditation that follows every yoga session reduces hypertension, improves blood circulation and relieves depression. It helps reduce extra pressure on one’s heart caused due to added stress thereby improving its functioning and helping protect us against future heart attacks 5 Lowers blood sugar Yoga lowers blood sugar and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and boosts HDL (“good”) cholesterol. In people with diabetes, yoga has been found to lower blood sugar in several ways: by lowering cortisol and adrenaline levels, encouraging weight loss, and improving sensitivity to the effects of insulin. It is important to keep in mind that people who are suffering from some disease or are obese should seek professional help while performing yoga. The yoga routine should be designed by the yoga instructor in consultation with the treating doctor for best results and to avoid injury.
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About Heart Care Foundation of India
Initiated in 1986, the Heart Care Foundation of India is a leading National NGO working in the field of creating mass health awareness among people from all walks of life and providing solutions for India’s everyday healthcare needs. The NGO uses consumer-based entertainment modules to impart health education and increase awareness amongst people. A leading example of this is the Perfect Health Mela; an annual event started in 1993 that is attended by over 2-3 lakh people each year. The Mela showcases activities across categories such as health education seminars and check-ups, entertainment programs, lifestyle exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and competitions. In addition to this, the NGO conducts programs and camps to train people on the technique of hands only CPR through its CPR 10 mantra for revival after a sudden cardiac arrest. They currently hold three Limca book of world records for the maximum number of people trained in hands-only CPR in one go. Keeping article 21 of the Indian Constitution in mind, which guarantees a person Right to Life, Heart Care Foundation of India has also recently initiated a project called the Sameer Malik Heart Care Foundation Fund to ensure that no one dies of a heart disease just because they cannot afford treatment.
