ICMR says that prevalence of heart diseases has increased by 50%. DR KUSHAL BANERJEE tells MUSBA HASHMI how an alternative route can be beneficial
The advancements in science and technology has took the world by storm. No one is spared from its influence and so is homeopathy. There was a time when homeopathy was the most preferred treatment among the patients but with the invasion of newer technology the essence of it faded. But, now the time has come when homeopathy is no longer the last option. The reason being so many advancements in the field which has brought in rich results in curing or atleast preventing the spread of some of the lethal diseases. Having said that, data from recent case studies have shown that homeopathy is effective in management of severe heart diseases too.
The evidence, gathered over many years, states that more than 85 per cent of cases of patients requiring cardiac stenting or bypass surgery, who started specific homeopathic treatment protocols at the clinic in the early stages, avoided getting the procedures done in their entirety. Patients showed considerable improvement in their blood pressure and cholesterol readings when started on these homeopathy treatment regimens developed over decades of experience.
Dr Kushal Banerjee from Dr Kalyan Banerjee Clinic’s says that there has been an extensive change in the mindset of people in the last 10-15 years. “In the wake of severity of diseases, people are becoming more responsible and alert. Earlier, people used to go for homeopathic treatment only when allopathic or for that matter ayurvedic treatment failed to bring the desired results. A lot has changed since then. Now, people prefer to opt for homeopathic treatment in the early stages of disease and this is the reason behind the success of the treatment,” he tells you.
He tells you that homeopathy and allopathy can work together and there are no side effects of it. “Adding homeopathy to the allopathic prescription often has a beneficial effect without the added side effects of higher doses of allopathic medicines. In some cases, the lipid profile or elevated blood pressure of a patient does not improve despite taking allopathic medicines. However, homeopathy has been effectively able to manage cholesterol and blood pressure readings. Patients who visit us in the early stages of the disease can be on exclusive homeopathic medicines for their blood pressure management. If lifestyle and dietary modifications are followed, then patients may be off all medicines too. Old, established cases of elevated blood pressure are gradually weaned off allopathic medicines with homeopathy, wherever possible. When this is not possible, patients are either able to reduce their allopathic medicines or prevent an increase, thereby limiting their side effects.”
The reason behind increase in heart diseases has been said multiple times but is still often ignored by the people. “It has been almost a decade now since we have been trying to list out the reasons behind heart diseases, but still not many give it a thought. The most common cause is an extremely unhealthy lifestyle which includes less or no exercise, lack of sleep and consumption of unhealthy or junk food. But, not only the general public is to be blamed here. The real villain is the hectic working hours in India where a person is left with no choice but to follow a dull and unhealthy routine. This is a matter of concern and should be addressed before its too late,” he says and suggests that flexible working hours is the only solution. There is a misconception that sleeping more than eight hours can lead to various problems.
“Some people are of the opinion that sleeping more can cause diseases, however it is the opposite. Sleep deprived people are more prone to diseases including heart diseases. Also, keeping in mind the hectic lifestyle that we are bound to follow sleeping for 10 or 12 hours won’t cause any harm. Instead, it will help the body to rejuvenate and relax. But, yes improper sleeping patterns or more than 12 hours sleep can be a warning sign and should be taken care of immediately,” he says.
Homeopathy not only help in combating heart diseases, it also help in the healing process after surgery. “Homeopathy also plays a very important role in the recuperation phase in patients who have recently undergone heart surgery. A difficult complication is the non-healing of the site from where the grafts for bypass was taken. There is no cure for this in the allopathic system.Complications arising from these sites can lead to drastic outcomes like gangrene followed by amputation of the affected limb. These patients can be treated with homeopathy alone, sparing the patient’s prolonged discomfort after a major surgery,” he tells you.
Respond to heart’s call
Heart attack rates are increasing in India among all age groups. The rising rates among adults in their 20s and 30s is a worrying trend. Nowadays heart attack has become very common. In many cases, cases of heart attacks were also seen while sleeping. As per the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), the prevalence of heart diseases in the country has increased by 50 per cent from 1990 to 2016. It is alarming to note that cardiovascular problems contribute to 17.8 per cent of total deaths.
In such a situation, it is important to know what to do in case of a heart attack. It is important to understand three sudden signs of heart attack and how to respond to them. These include:
Respond to sudden signs
If you feel that you are having a heart attack immediately call the ambulance and visit a nearby hospital. Also, don’t worry if you’re not sure about the symptoms of a heart attack. In this case, seek medical attention and follow these three steps.
Wait for the paramedics.
The writer is Dr Subhash Chandra, Chairman-HOD, Cardiology Department, BLK Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi