Heart Attack – Signs and Symptoms

A heart attack occurs when the blood flow gets restricted to a certain section of the heart muscle. Due to lack of blood, the heart muscle does not receive adequate oxygen and begins to die. This restriction in the flow of blood is usually caused by a blood clot in any of the blood vessels that lead to the coronary arteries. It may also be caused by narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. Blood flow to the heart muscle needs to be restored between 20 to 40 minutes of a heart attack. Or else, the heart muscle becomes dead and is replaced by scar tissue.

The signs and symptoms of a heart attack differ from person to person. Usually chest pain and feeling of pressure in the chest are the most common symptoms of a heart attack. Listed below are the other common signs:

·         Crushing chest pain that may spread to the left shoulder

·         Pain or pressure in the neck or jaw

·         Pain or pressure in either arm (more commonly, left)

·         Upper back ache

·         Pain or squeezing sensation beneath the breastbone

·         Pain or pulsation between shoulder blades

·         Shortness of breath after little exertion

·         Dizziness

·         Discomfort post meals

·         Sweating

·         Nausea or vomiting

·         Headache

·         Heartburn or indigestion

·         Palpitation

·         Vague feeling of illness

Many times there are no symptoms or signs of a heart attack. It is important not to ignore even if there are mild signs of a heart attack. A delay in treatment can lead to irreversible damage of the heart muscle and can also lead to death.

 Hypertension    blood pressure herbal remedy

Heart Attack – Ayurvedic Panchkarma

The heart is a vital organ of the body that needs dedicated care. Keeping a healthy heart is essential for general well-being and is a key to good health. Ayurveda believes that the heart not only performs the fundamental function of pumping blood to various parts of the body but is also considered to be the seat of the mind and soul.

The heart keeps the body alive by circulating blood to all parts and also controls and monitors various emotions. The ayurvedic term for a heart disease is ‘Hrudroga’. According to ayurveda, the primary causes of all hrudroga are stress, tension, smoking, alcoholism and consumption of unhealthy and fatty food. There are a number of herbal drugs and therapies that have been formulated to fight heart attack and its after-effects. Some such herbs are amlaki, haritaki, guduchi and so on.

In ayurveda, panchkarma is a treatment used to detoxify the body, build up the immune system and restore balance and well-being of the body. This is a five-fold therapy that aims to cleanse the body of all toxic materials so that it can use energy efficiently. For a specific type of disease and the corresponding toxins in the body, a particular type of Panchkarma measure is selected. Here are the five parts of the Panchkarma therapy:

Vamana (Therapeutic Vomiting)

This refers to induced vomiting in order to get rid of excess kapha in the body. This is especially useful in treating the heart as any heart disease builds up kapha in the body.

Virechana (Therapeutic Purgation)

In this purification process, a number of herbs are used as laxative to cleanse the body of all pitta doshas in the body. This process is especially useful in curing hypertension which is a major cause of heart attack. 

Asthapana (Therapeutic Enema with Herbal Water)

This process of purification is conducted to placate excess vata in the body. It mainly helps in curing disease affecting the lower portion of the body. It also helps in allaying heart pain.

Nasya (Medication through Nose)

This process involves boiling water with medicinal herbs and then inhaling the vapour. It usually alleviates problems related to kapha.

Blood Letting (Rakta Moksha)

This process helps in removing toxins in the bloodstream that have been absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. It relieves several pitta disorders.

Apart from undertaking various ayurveda medication and therapies, one also needs to bring about a conscious change in diet and lifestyle in order to maintain a healthy heart.

 alternative medicine for bp    BP ayurvedic medicine

Yoga for Heart Attack

Millions of people all over the world get affected by heart attack. Due to the unhealthy lifestyle and diet that most people follow nowadays, this heart disease is on the rise. We all need to find a way to keep a healthier heart. Strict changes made to our diet and lifestyle can help in keeping heart attack at bay.

According to research, it has been found that yoga plays an important role not only in keeping the heart healthy but also in reversing the clogging of arteries. People who practise yoga regularly have a regulated heart beat and good blood circulation. It also helps some patients reduce the level of blood pressure and reduce stress levels. Patients who have suffered from heart attack are known to recover faster by practising yoga.

There are numerous poses and breathing techniques that are considered to improve the working of your heart. These poses aim to improve the circulation of blood to the heart. It not only aids in strengthening the heart muscles but also increases its flexibility which prevents muscle cramping. Yoga increases stamina and helps in getting good sleep.

Here are few yoga asanas that are considered to be good for the heart:

·         Warrior Pose (Virabhadrasana)

·         Triangle Pose (Trikonasana)

·         Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana)

·         Locust Pose (Salabhasana)

·         Corpse Pose (Savasana)

·         Tree Pose (Vrukshasana)

·         Mountain Pose (Tadasana)

·         Lotus Pose (Padmasana)

Before practising yoga, do consult your physician regarding which poses are right for you. Make sure that you practise yoga only with the assistance of a trained professional. Along with practising yoga, make a conscious effort to have a healthy diet and lifestyle. 

 alternative medicine for bp     BP ayurvedic medicine

WEIGHT REDUCTION - YOGA

According to Ayurveda being overweight is an indication that the vata, kapha and pitta doshas in the body are out of balance. In obese persons, meda(fat) is nourished excessively, while other basic elements get malnourished. Lack of physical exercise, sleeping during daytime, consuming fatty and sweetened food items and the wrong diet and lifestyles, which increase Kapha are the common causes of obesity. Yoga has  a effect, which is permanent in nature for weight reduction. It helps achieve control over mind and behaviour(one can easily control food habits and change life style to reduce the obesity.) Yoga deep breathing helps in increasing the oxygen intake to the fat cells resulting in burning up of fat cells. Another amazing aspect of Yoga is it reduces anxiety, which reduces anxious eating. 
Various Yoga techniques can be practiced effectively to reduce the weight and achieve healthy condition of Body and Mind, they are:
Asanas
Yoga positions or postures are useful to reduce the fats in various parts, especially forward bending, twisting and backward bending asanas help reduce the fats near abdomen, hips and other areas.
Sun salutations
The practice of Sun salutation is a sequence of seven asanas practiced in order, which tones all muscles and internal organs are stretched increasing blood & oxygen supply to these parts. Regular practice of sun salutation with breathing gives good exercise to the lungs. Mantras have relaxing effect on mind.
Pranayama
Pranayama is very important technique in yoga, which is control and extension of Prana or Vital energy/Life force. People suffering from obesity can practice Kapalbhati, Bhasrika & fast breathing.
Agnisar
Fast movement of abdominal muscles in and out, is very good exercise to get rid of the accumulated fats in the abdominal region.

Hypertension   blood pressure herbal remedy

Heart Attack – Causes

Also known as myocardial infarction, cardiac infarction or coronary thrombosis, heart attack occurs when the heart muscle does not have enough blood supply. This depleted supply of blood is usually due to a blood clot in any of the blood vessels that lead to the coronary arteries (blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart muscle).

During a heart attack, the patient may suffer from chest pain and chest pressure sensation. If blood flow is not restored to the heart muscle within a span of 20-40 minutes, the death of the heart muscle will be irreversible. Here are the three major causes of heart attack.

Coronary Artery Disease

Most heart attacks are caused due to coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD refers to the building up of a fatty substance called plaque on the inner walls of the coronary arteries. With increase in plaque, the artery walls thicken while the arteries become narrow. This process is called atherosclerosis. The accumulating plaque can either completely block the coronary artery or can rupture to form a blood clot. These will ultimately amount to a heart attack.

Coronary Microvascular Disease

Coronary microvascular disease (MVD) occurs when rather than the larger coronary arteries, the heart’s microscopic blood vessels are affected. This can be caused by building up of plaque in these tiny arteries, spasms in the arteries or damage to artery walls. Coronary MVD is believed to be more common in women as compared to men.

Coronary Artery Spasm

A coronary artery spasm occurs when a severe spasm or contraction of the muscle occurs in the wall of one of the coronary arteries. This can restrict or block the flow of blood to the heart. This is usually a rare cause of heart attack.

Given below are some of the causative factors of CAD, MVD and Coronary Artery Spasm:

Age – With increase in age, the risk of having a heart attack rises. For men, the age after which they should be careful is 45, while for women it is 55.

Diabetes – Diabetics are more prone to have heart diseases.

Smoking – Regular and heavy smokers run a higher risk of a heart attack compared to non-smokers and those who quit.

Cholesterol level – People with high blood cholesterol levels have a higher risk of developing blood clots in the coronary arteries.

Diet and obesity – Consumption of large quantities of saturated fat and animal fat on a regular basis leads to increase in cholesterol level which in turn leads to a heart attack.

Physical inactivity – A sedentary life without much exercise may lead to various heart problems.

Hypertension – People with high blood pressure are more prone to heart attacks.

Heredity – A person with a strong family history of heart disease is more prone to a heart attack. There is ample evidence to prove that this is true.

 BP ayurvedic medicine   serpina