Yoga and exercise can help prevent or manage several heart diseases. Yoga has a calming effect on the mind and the body, provides better balance, is good for the heart and promotes better functioning of the organ. Yoga involves a series of body poses and breathing exercises that can improve flexibility, strength, balance and relaxation. Heart attack occurs when there is a blockage in the flow of blood to the heart. You may experience common symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, discomfort that spreads to the shoulder, arm, back, fatigue, heartburn, light-headedness, nausea, etc.
The role of Yoga
Regular yoga has shown significant benefits in coronary heart disease prevention. It reduces stress which is the root cause of increased blood pressure and heart diseases. The deep breathing and mental focus of yoga works as an overall treatment plan.
- Yoga is a heart health booster
Yoga may help lower blood pressure, blood cholesterol and blood glucose levels as well as heart rate. People who practice yoga regularly have lower blood levels of markers for inflammation, which contributes to heart disease.
- Yoga as smoking cessation aid
Yoga might be a useful tool in helping a person quit smoking and reduce risk of heart attack. Smoking is one of the biggest causes for rising heart diseases.
- Yoga strengthens your heart muscles
Yoga helps build muscle strength, it tones muscles and also helps burn calories. Vinyasa yoga will raise your heart rate and burn those extra calories. Obesity is bad for the heart and yoga can help improve overall physical fitness.
- Yoga ensures better sleep
After a long day, you can perform some yoga which includes breathing and meditation techniques that slow down your heart rate, eliminate stress and prepare you for a good night's sleep. Some of the best Yogas to try for managing heart disease are:
- Hasta Utthanasana
- Vrikshasana
- Bhujangasana
- Gomukhasana
Prevention and Control of Cardiovascular Disease
There are a few things you must do right in your everyday life in order to prevent a heart attack. Yoga must be a part of your daily routine, follow a healthy lifestyle, diet, maintain a healthy body weight and manage other health conditions like diabetes. You must stay in touch with the doctor, regularly monitor your blood pressure and diabetes, which can increase the risk of heart attacks and do not self-medicate. Make sure to take the medications as directed by the physician.