LIFESTYLE DISORDER

Management of diseases arising from poor lifestyle, dietary habits, and modern living stresses.

HYPERTENSION

•Hypertension refers to consistently elevated blood pressure levels that can strain the heart and blood vessels, leading to cardiovascular problems.
•Multiple factors contribute including genetics, unhealthy lifestyle choices, obesity, stress, high-sodium diet, sedentary habits, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption.
•Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, chest pain, shortness of breath, and irregular heartbeats.
•Ayurveda approaches hypertension as an imbalance in the doshas, particularly Vata and Pitta.
•Treatment focuses on dietary and lifestyle modifications, stress reduction, herbal remedies, and Ayurvedic therapies to regulate blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health.

•In Ayurveda, diabetes is correlated as Prameha, associated with improper dietary habits and lack of physical exertion.
•Diabetes is a prevalent chronic condition affecting the body's ability to regulate blood sugar levels.
•Symptoms include frequent urination, excessive thirst, unexplained weight loss, increased hunger, fatigue, slow wound healing, recurring infections, blurred vision, and tingling in extremities.
•Risk factors include family history, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, poor dietary habits, and certain medical conditions.
•Common types include Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, and prediabetes.
•Management includes lifestyle modifications, dietary changes, herbal remedies, Panchakarma detox, exclusive yoga sessions, and tailored food and lifestyle plans.
•Treatment aims to restore balance, support pancreatic function, regulate blood sugar levels, and minimize complications.

•In Ayurveda, obesity is an imbalance in the body's doshas, particularly Kapha and Meda (fat tissue).
•Characterized by excessive accumulation of Meda (fat/adipose tissue) and Mamsa (flesh/muscle tissue) leading to flabbiness.
•Due to consumption of excessive calories, lifestyle and metabolic disorders.
•Symptoms include excessive weight gain, increased body fat percentage, difficulty in physical activities, breathlessness, fatigue, joint pain, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure.
•Ayurvedic treatment focuses not only on weight loss but on correcting metabolism and balancing doshas.
•Important to detox the body, clean the channels, and reduce stress factors to achieve and maintain healthy weight.
•Effective management involves addressing root causes, adopting balanced diet, regular physical activity, and incorporating Ayurvedic therapies.

•Hypothyroidism is characterized by an underactive thyroid gland that does not produce enough thyroid hormones.
•Leads to a slowdown in various bodily functions and metabolic processes.
•Risk factors include age, gender, family history, thyroid surgery or radiation, iodine deficiency, type 1 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis.
•Symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, constipation, dry skin, hair loss, depression or memory problems, and slow heart rate.
•Ayurvedic treatment addresses imbalances in doshas and disturbances in the body's energy pathways.

•Hyperthyroidism is characterized by an overactive thyroid gland producing excessive thyroid hormones.
•Leads to an accelerated metabolic rate and various associated symptoms.
•Primary cause is an autoimmune disorder called Graves' disease, but can also be from thyroid nodules, thyroiditis, or certain medications.
•Risk factors include family history, female gender, age over 60, radiation exposure, high iodine intake, and stress.
•Symptoms include weight loss, nervousness or anxiety, rapid or irregular heartbeat, hand tremors, increased sweating, heat intolerance, difficulty sleeping, diarrhea, muscle weakness, and bulging eyes.
•In Ayurveda, thyroid disorders are viewed as imbalances in the doshas and disturbances in the body's energy pathways.
•Approach varies based on individual constitution (prakriti), nature of imbalance (vikriti), and type of thyroid disorder present.