In a groundbreaking challenge to conventional medical practices, Prof B M Hegde has called for a paradigm shift in the treatment of serious ailments In a groundbreaking challenge to conventional medical practices, Prof B M Hegde has called for a paradigm shift in the treatment of serious ailments

The world of medicine is all set to see an intense debate on the medical protocol to be employed in curing serious ailments thanks to an Indian doctor.

An internationally reputed cardiologist Prof B M Hegde who is based in Mangalore in Karnataka has challenged the existing diagnostic system in the field of physical ailments practiced across the world and has called for a shift to mind-based cure protocol.

Dr Hegde says that if one wants to live a life free of ailments like cancer and other serious medical issues, all one needs to do is to love all and hate none. “The more you hate people and abuse/criticize them, the medical constitution in your body gets deteriorated,” he told The Pioneer.“Although there has been a lot of thinking going on in medical circles about the role of the mind in psychological disorders, much needs to be done in the field of physical ailments.

Recent data on the important role played by the human mind in the causation of major physical illnesses like heart attacks and cancer have rekindled our interest in the intricacies of the working of the human mind vis a vis the human body. In the 17th century itself, William Harvey had clearly indicated that in all bodily afflictions there is a mental basis.

As there is no big money involved in this kind of research unlike the gold rush in the field of epidemiology and interventions, the field did not until very recently attract good researchers,” writes Prof Hegde, who is also the chief editor of the “Journal of Science of Healing Outcomes”, a super peer-reviewed scientific publication.Interestingly, Prof Hegde, a former visiting professor of cardiology at, the University of London, always had strong reservations about the treatment protocol for cardio vascular diseases and cancer. In the editorial of the July 2024 issue of the JSHO,  he quoted from the Journal of American Medical Association which has published a large study on the connection between life stresses and their role in the causation of coronary artery diseases.  

He said the JAMA study focused on the immediate and long-term effects of various emotional stressors that are a part of life in the modern rat race of the monetary economy.Prof Hegde with more than five decades of medical research and practice to his credit has found that hostility, anger, frustration and bereavement come up on top among the negative emotions.

 “Love, compassion, social support and job satisfaction have control over one’s situation, negative emotions acutely raised the blood pressure as also the heart rate and the breathing rate,” said the octogenarian professor who has been honoured with Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan by the President of India for the scintillating works he has done over the decades.According to Prof Hegde’s experience, chronic stress does take its toll leading to killer diseases. “Emotions play a major role in one getting afflicted with such ailments. Scientists, business barons, professionals and politicians should bear this in mind.

When the competition becomes too intense, chances of one losing control shoot up and there can be no coming back to normalcy,” he said.

Dr Hegde pointed out the debates in Parliament and election campaigns to drive home the point that one should be elegant and cool-headed during the battle for power. “Even military officers behave in a disciplined manner while they are engaged in fighting the enemies.

This is what we should learn to stay cool and free of ailments,” he said.For the uninitiated, Prof Hegde is the author of many books and has written the preface for medical books published by medical scientists. His seminal work “What Doctors Don’t Get to Study in Medical School” is widely read in the world of medicine and many doctors rate it as the Holy Bible of Modern Medicine. If we stay away from unhealthy competition for wealth and power, we can keep serious ailments like heart disease and cancer miles away from us.

The only losers would be pharma companies that charge a fortune for a course of medicine. The JSHO has the whose-who of the world of medicine and science working as its editorial staff and board. This includes Prof Joanna Floros, and Evan Pugh Professor of Paediatrics and Obstetrics, Penn State University Hershey, USA, who is the co-editor in chief.

(The writer is a special correspondent with the Pioneer, views expressed are personal)