Can Heart Disease Be Reversed?

For many years now, heart disease has become a rising problem in India. More and more people are being diagnosed with the condition, and one reason for this is the increase in the risk factor profile. Many of us Indians suffer from obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes, and a whopping 11 crore plus people smoke!

It is not surprising that India is slowly becoming the ‘world capital’ of heart disease and diabetes.

We now have many treatments available that can manage these conditions. However, once treatment is started, it usually is for the rest of the person’s life.

If you are someone who is struggling with taking tablets everyday, or just wants to cut down their medicines and go back to life the way it was in the past, then you should be trying everything that you can to reverse heart disease.

Is this possible you ask? Yes it is!

There are currently a number of different programs that run in the United States that help people with heart disease reverse their condition quite effectively.

Reversal is mostly done through lifestyle changes and a healthy diet. While this sounds quite straightforward, many people find it difficult to do due to the level of commitment and determination it requires. Also, it is important for those who try to reverse their heart disease to do so after taking advice from their doctor, and continuing the medicines they have been prescribed until they are advised to stop.

Doing it the right way

If you have made up your mind that you want to reverse your heart disease, then you are already 50% closer to your goal. It is a long and hard road, but then (as they say) – ‘nothing in life worth having comes easy’.

Dr Dean Ornish, author of ‘Dr Dean Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease‘ and president of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute in the United States, has found that a large number of his patients have had excellent results with just making some simple changes to their lifestyle. In fact, those with severe heart disease who were waiting for a heart transplant went on to improve the blood flow to their heart through these measures, and did not require the transplant! Complete reversal was sometimes seen within 5 years of starting treatment.

But his program just does not involve changing your diet and performing regular exercise. It also explores the ‘psychological and spiritual dimensions of heart disease’. It involves building new relationships with people, enjoying a fuller life, achieving your goals and dreams and experiencing greater intimacy with family and friends.

Dietary changes remain the same – always make sure you eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, lean meat and legumes. Avoid sugar, processed foods and simple carbohydrates.

In chapter 9 of his book, he talked about meditation as a part of the healing process. Meditation has been shown to reduce blood pressure and improve overall productivity. Dr Ornish states ‘the effects of meditation on lowering blood pressure and improving performance  – or even helping to reverse heart disease –  are only side effects or by-products of their primary purpose: to experience inner peace and happiness‘.

So it is a lot more than diet and exercise that is needed to reverse heart disease. Make sure you lead a wholesome balanced life. Be good and do good unto others. Achieve a physical, emotional and spiritual balance and you are on your way to reducing and even reversing heart disease.

You can take a look at Dr Ornish’s book by clicking on the image below.