Coronary artery disease, also known as coronary heart disease, ischemic heart disease or heart disease; is a condition in which there is build-up of fatty material, called plaque in the arteries which supply oxygen rich blood to the heart. The plaque causes narrowing and blockages of the arteries that may result in heart attack. The symptoms of this condition are nausea, dizziness, weakness, tiredness, discomfort and pain in shoulders, neck, abdomen, and back; unexplained anxiety, cold sweat, angina, etc. The causes of coronary artery diseases are smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and sedentary lifestyle.
‘Krimija hrida roga’ is the term for coronary artery disease in ayurvedic text. This condition is resulted from vitiation of all three doshas that cause accumulation of Ama in the arteries. A person who consumes more oil, milk and its products, high sugar content products, is physically inactive; is more prone to this condition. These habits tend to increase the fat growth in the body, which gets build-up in the arteries, which further if left untreated, leads to heart failure.
Thus, to reverse the condition, it is important to balance the vitiated doshas and boost metabolism. This is done by various procedures like Panchakarma therapy that includes Snehana and Swedana; which help in detoxification and purification of the system. The treatment is accompanied by lifestyle modifications that include changes in diet and exercise regimen. This helps in fast recovery and clearing blockages from the channels. It is also associated with intake of certain herbs like Arjun, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, saffron, guggulu, fenugreek, amalaki, garlic, tulsi, ashwagandha, etc. these herbs help in boosting metabolism and also enhance clearing of blocked channels of heart. Thus, the line of treatment for coronary artery disease suggested by ayurveda helps in complete reversal of the condition in a complete holistic way.
Types of coronary artery disease
- Obstructive coronary artery disease: This disease develops when plaque builds up in the major arteries which leads to narrowing them. It cuts off the heart’s supply of oxygen-rich blood. One or more than three major coronary arteries can be entirely blocked by blood flow.
- Non-obstructive Coronary artery disease: This condition occurs when plaque narrows the major arteries. Plaque development is responsible for less than half of the occlusion of the heart’s major arteries. The inner walls of the coronary arteries are damaged.
- Coronary microvascular disease: This is a kind of heart disease that affects the tiny arteries. It can occur on its own or in conjunction with obstructive or non-obstructive coronary artery disease.
Complications of coronary artery disease
- Chest discomfort (angina): Your heart may not receive enough blood when demand is highest, such as during physical exertion, if your coronary arteries constrict. This can result in angina (chest discomfort) or shortness of breath.
- Heart failure: If a cholesterol plaque ruptures and a blood clot develops, your heart artery may become completely blocked, resulting in a heart attack. Your heart muscle may be damaged due to a lack of blood supply. The extent of the harm is influenced by how fast you obtain care.
- Heart attack: Your heart may become too weak to pump enough blood to satisfy your body’s demands if specific regions of your heart are chronically deprived of oxygen and nutrients due to restricted blood flow, or if your heart has been injured by a heart attack. Heart failure is the medical term for this illness.
- Atypical heartbeat (arrhythmia): Abnormal heart rhythms can be caused by a lack of blood flow to the heart or injury to cardiac tissue interfering with electrical impulses.
Ayurveda for coronary artery disease
‘Krimija hrida roga’ is the term for coronary artery disease in ayurvedic text. This condition is resulted from vitiation of all three doshas that cause accumulation of Ama in the arteries. A person who consumes more oil, milk and its products, high sugar content products, is physically inactive; is more prone to this condition. These habits tend to increase the fat growth in the body, which gets build-up in the arteries, which further if left untreated, leads to heart failure.
Thus, to reverse the condition, it is important to balance the vitiated doshas and boost metabolism. This is done by various procedures like Panchakarma therapy that includes Snehana and Swedana; which help in detoxification and purification of the system. The treatment is accompanied by lifestyle modifications that include changes in diet and exercise regimen. This helps in fast recovery and clearing blockages from the channels. It is also associated with intake of certain herbs like Arjuna, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, saffron, guggulu, fenugreek, amalaki, garlic, tulsi, ashwagandha, etc. these herbs help in boosting metabolism and also enhance clearing of blocked channels of heart. Thus, the line of treatment for coronary artery disease suggested by ayurveda helps in complete reversal of the condition in a complete holistic way.
