Importance of yoga and effect on heart failure
Yoga not only improves physical health but also increases mental peace and brain activity. Regular practice of yoga keeps a person healthy. A recent study has revealed that doing yoga can significantly improve the quality of life of patients suffering from heart failure. This study was presented at the American Heart Association.
Need for cardiac rehabilitation in India
This study is important because there are very few specialized cardiac rehabilitation centers in India that can continuously monitor these patients. This yoga-based program has been developed as an affordable and accessible option for cardio management. This study was provided financial assistance by the 'Indian Council of Medical Research' and some institutions of Britain and America.
Benefits of Yoga: For heart attack survivors
Researchers had already proved that yoga is extremely beneficial for heart attack survivors. Dr. Ambuj Roy, author of the study and professor of cardiology at AIIMS, said that the recent study found that yoga can be adopted as traditional, closely monitored western rehabilitation practices. Earlier, we had conducted a test on heart attack survivors, in which it was observed that with the help of yoga, people could return to their regular life quickly.
Study process and results
The study included 3500 participants, all of whom had an ejection fraction of 40% or less. They were divided into two groups: one group received cardiac rehabilitation, while the other received normal treatment. After three months, the patients who did yoga saw an improvement in their quality of life, and an increase in their mobility.
Status of heart failure in India
About 80 lakh to 1 crore people in India are affected by heart failure, and 18 lakh new cases are reported every year. Only 5-10% of health institutions in the country have specialized cardiac rehabilitation centers available, providing a good option for heart failure patients.
What is heart failure?
Heart failure is a condition in which the heart is unable to pump blood with sufficient pressure. This does not mean that the heart stops working completely, but rather the heart muscles become weak and are unable to function effectively.