Heart Disease
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7. HEALTHY LIFESTYLE ATTRIBUTES FOR THE HEART
Yoga and Heart Health
7.1 It has become common knowledge that Yoga is good for you. Currently Yoga is being used as a therapy for various ailments including heart disease. The heart has a direct and close relationship with the mind and the mind has a direct bearing on the heart. Yoga in such a scenario, is an ideal way to treat heart disease, as it heals and harmonises the mind-body connection.
7.2 A Yoga programme revitalises the body’s cells, improving circulation, digestion and respiratory function. It also manages stress, lowers body weight, improves lipid levels and brings about a qualitative stable heart rate with reduced blood pressure. All these beneficial changes in turn protect a person against cardiovascular diseases.
7.3 Therapeutic aspects of yoga include asanas, meditation, relaxation and deep breathing techniques and lifestyle changes which can reverse and treat cardiovascular diseases. A study conducted by Dr. Subhash Chander Manchanda of AIIMS, New Delhi found that “Even in advanced stages of heart disease, Yoga could be of help in halting the worsening of the arterial blockage. The user-friendly methodology of Yoga does reverse atherosclerotic obstruction in patients known to have coronary heart disease.”
Laughter – the Best Medicine for Healthy Living
7.4 God’s greatest gift to man is the joy of laughter. Readers Digest slogan – “Laughter is the Best Medicine” is more than true, after all, if not a panacea for all ailments, it is certainly a good preventative measure that also makes you feel great. Research, the world over, has proved that health and happiness go hand in hand. Humour and positive attitude to life is health – the happier you are, the healthier you are. You need to laugh enough naturally or as learned behaviour to release natural pain killers and feel good hormones (endorphins) and to reduce stress hormone cortisol levels to stay healthy.
7.5 Like any other exercise, a hearty laugh (laughtercising) involves the entire body, not just the jaw muscles, raises metabolism, releases and tones the facial and other muscles, improves oxygen uptake at both the cellular and organ level and improves respiration, makes blood less stickier due to reduced levels of fibrinogen which improves blood circulation and keeps your heart in shape and blood pressure in check – all this can make you look younger and live longer. It was shown in a clinical trial that laughter appears to cause the tissue that forms the inner lining of heart blood vessels, the endothelium, to dilate or expand in order to increase blood flow. This correlates with better vascular health and reduces risk of heart disease.
7.6 Laughter stimulates various brain centres that can bolster your immune system and suppress stress hormones by producing enough antibodies in the mucous membranes of the nose and respiratory passages. Funnily, but truly, even the anticipation of watching a humourous video can raise levels of immune boosting hormones in the blood and the benefits can last up to a day. Researchers have proved that energetic, happy and relaxed people are less likely to catch a cold than those who are depressed, angry and nervous. Laughter also stimulates both sides of the brain to enhance learning.
