Over the past two decades, the poor living habits due to raised sedentary lifestyle, competitive living, job requirements and stressful conditions emerged as the main culprits against a healthy or disease free life. In this erratic lifestyle, we have forgotten the mantra “Health is Wealth”. Working for long hours, the burden of studies, stress for career making or many other reasons shortens the time for taking care of one’s own body. While some poor lifestyle habit such as lack of physical workout, stress, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, alcohol, inappropriate sleeping patterns, and consumption of unhealthy diet leads to the development of various dreadful diseases. As these diseases develop due to bad lifestyle habits, these are termed as Lifestyle diseases. These can interrupt normal functioning of the body and can also result in death if not get treated at the right time. But there is no need to be anxious, the most effective method for preventing and managing the progression of lifestyle diseases is to adapt the Ayurvedic lifestyle habits. In this article, we will discuss some major lifestyle diseases and some Ayurvedic tips for their prevention. Let’s go.
Lifestyle Diseases
Sedentary lifestyle habits can give rise to a wide range of health diseases but some major lifestyle diseases include:
- Cancer :- Cancer, millions of people lose their lives every year due to cancer. Basically cancer is a group of diseases including abnormal or uncontrolled growth of cells which further results in a tumor. These tumors can spread into other body parts and interfere with their normal working. The exact causes developing the cancer are still not clear but genetic factors and unhealthy lifestyle habits are supposed to trigger the development of cancer a lot. Poor dietary habits, smoking, and being physically inactive are one of the major triggers of cancer.
- Heart disorders :_ Heart can be considered as the only body organ performing its functions throughout its whole lifespan. It never asks for rest or sleep and beats continuously 24*7. But poor lifestyle habits leave a negative impact on heart health and can lead to various heart disorders. Increased levels of triglycerides and cholesterol are the major indicators of heart diseases. Consuming oily foods in large quantities, excessive smoking, drinking alcohol and lack of physical activity contributes a lot to heart diseases such as angina, congestive heart failure, etc.
- Type 2 diabetes:- Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which blood glucose levels remain more than normal due to insulin resistance. This disorder affects a large portion of the population worldwide as it has the tendency to run in families also. Increased sedentary lifestyle habits including high intake of sweetened eatables or beverages, being overweight, smoking habits and no physical activity contributes a lot in the occurrence of diabetes. Controlling these risk factors will help in managing diabetes to a great extent.
- Obesity:- Having a body mass index higher than 30 kg/m2 is considered as obesity. It is a life-threatening condition making the body more vulnerable to various dreadful diseases like heart diseases, diabetes, etc. Obesity is mainly due to improper exercise, excessive consumption of alcohol, unhealthy diet including junk foods, fast foods, packed foods, etc., undergoing stressful conditions, and disturbed sleep patterns.
- Hypertension:- Blood pressure is the pressure exerted on the walls of blood vessels when heart pumps blood. Normal range of blood pressure is considered as 120/80 mm Hg. But if there is prolonged increase in blood pressure is observed, the condition is named as hypertension. This condition can further lead to heart failure also if proper steps are not taken to maintain normal blood pressure level. Consumption of spicy foods, salted items, or oily foods, increased cholesterol levels, and lack of exercise may result in hypertension.
How to Prevent Life Style Diseases With Ayurveda?
Ayurvedic is a holistic science and being 5000 years old and traditional system of medicines, Ayurveda has potency to prevent the diseases developed due to poor lifestyle habits. As per Ayurveda, Health is the state of equilibrium established between Tridoshas (vata, pitta and kapha), Dhatu, Agni and mala with blissful mind, body and soul. All we have to do is to follow and adapt tips and measures given in Ayurveda to improve life quality and live a healthy life.
- Dincharya (Daily Routine)
- Link between Dincharya and diseases.
- Necessity of Dincharya in preventing lifestyle diseases.
By following the Dincharya system, we can reduce the risk of lifestyle diseases to a certain extent.
- Link between Dincharya and disease
- As per Vagbhata Acharya, the main reasons of development of diseases are improper or excessive participation of: Kaal-Ritu (six seasons), Artha-Shabda sprashadi indriyartha and Karma- Manasik, Vachik, kayik karma.
- According to this sutra, kaalaj hetu is avoided by following system of Ritucharya.
- Karmaj hetu are avoided by adapting Dinacharya.
Dinacharya System: In Ayurvedic literature, some suggestions are mentioned to start the day. These habits are very advantageous in preventing numerous diseases and enhancing the overall health. These habits are:
- Rise early in the morning (Brahma muhurta uthisthe)
- Do regular exercise (Vyayam)
- Regular use of massage (Abhyanga)
- Clean teeth twice a day (Dantadhavan)
- Don’t suppress natural urges
- Take a healthy and seasonal diet. Eat food according to appetite only.
- Avoid intake of alcohol
Each person needs to be aware about his daily routine habits for the welfare of his health, maintaining healthy immunity and thus preventing lifestyle diseases.
- Ritucharya
Ritucharya constitutes a necessary aspect for prevention of many health ailments including lifestyle diseases. According to Ritucharya, Ayurveda suggests Seasonal Panchakarma; Basti in Varsha ritu, Vaman in Vasant ritu, and Virechana in Sharad ritu for maintaining an excellent mental and physical health and prevention of various body disorders.
- Panchakarma Therapy
Panchakarma states five main natural therapies which are very beneficial for the well-being of the body. Panchakarma includes snehan(oleation),swedan(steam), Vaman (Therapeutic emesis), Virechana (Therapeutic purgation), Basti (Therapeutic decoction and oil enema), Nasya and Raktamoshana. Panchakarma focuses on prevention of diseases instead of curing them. All therapies coming under Panchakarma reduces the stress, restores the mental health and prevents the diseases induced due to lifestyle.
- Rasayan Therapy
By boosting and supporting Agnibala (digestive fire), Indriya Bala and Dhatubala, Rasayan gives rejuvenate and nourishing effects. The Rasayana drugs can be used as antioxidants, adaptogenic and immunomodulators. Thus, they protect the body from lifestyle diseases.
Conclusion
A healthy body should be the first priority in our life. A diseased person is not able to capture happy moments, and do his work wisely. So, take care of your body while being busy also. You can give at least one hour in a day for doing yoga, meditation, or any physical activity which makes you sweat. Also follow the above given Ayurvedic tips for preventing diseases which can develop due to poor lifestyle habits.
