The Old-school Health Secret Every Heart Patient Needs to Know

Dr. Ajit Singh emphasizes that a unique blend of mind-body practices, also known as Yoga, holds the potential to rejuvenate both the psyche and the physique.

Recent discoveries underscore the benefits of this specific exercise—rooted in ancient Indian traditions—in enhancing well-being and vitality among those grappling with cardiac ailments.

This centuries-old practice offers promising results in bolstering heart performance, leading experts to advocate for its integration into therapeutic regimens.

Heart failure, a cardiovascular ailment, arises when the heart muscle can’t efficiently pump, leading to symptoms like fluid accumulation and breathlessness.

Elaborating on this holistic approach, Dr. Singh notes, “Yoga is a combination of mind-body techniques, which is a set of physical exercises with breathing techniques, relaxation and meditation that can be effectively used to stimulate physical and mental well-being.”

Remarkably, individuals who adopted this regimen saw a noticeable uptick in vital parameters like systolic pressure and pulse rate compared to their counterparts who only relied on standard medications.

These findings, which were presented at the 2023 American College of Cardiology Asia gathering in the Philippines, delved into the extended benefits of this therapeutic modality.

Researchers from the Indian Council for Medical Research at Manipal Academy of Heart Education’s Kasturba Medical College & Hospital delved into its impacts on 75 heart failure patients. These participants, aged between 30 to 70, had previously undergone coronary intervention, revascularisation, or device therapy within the previous six months to one year.

The cohort was bifurcated: one segment (35 individuals) embraced this mind-body regimen, while the other (40 individuals) continued with their conventional medical treatments.

Those in the former group underwent specialized training in techniques like pranayama and meditation.

Each training session spanned approximately an hour. Post a week of monitored training, participants were instructed to continue practicing at home, ideally five times a week for a year.

Results demonstrated that those engaged in the ancient regimen experienced enhanced stamina, muscle strength, equilibrium, symptom control, and overall life quality.

Dr. Singh observed: “This study proves that the addition of yoga therapy to standard medical management of heart failure leads to an improvement in left ventricular systolic function and quality of life in heart failure patients.

“Hence, yoga therapy may improve physical well-being and left ventricular function among heart failure patients on guideline-directed optimal medical therapy.”

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