Interviewer: Hello Dr. Vikram, welcome to this beautiful day at Sukhna Lake. Today we want you to provide us your knowledge and experience about common and dangerous diseases like blood pressure. So please tell us what is this blood pressure and hypertension.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan: Blood pressure is very common these days. Every day we see so many people are diagnosed with BP and even young people are also suffering from hypertension these days. Earlier people of age 60 and more usually complained of this hypertension. Now a day’s people in their 30s, even in the 20s are diagnosed with HTN.
Interviewer: What is this disease actually?
Dr. Vikram Chauhan : Blood pressure is actually pressure exerted by the blood in our arteries. The artery is like a fluid pipe. Just imagine a pipe which is conducting a fluid through it similarly in our arteries blood is flowing through arteries and blood while flowing exert pressure on arteries where normal blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg of a healthy human being. But these days, it’s found to be increased from its normal value as artery flexibility is decreasing. If artery becomes stiffed, then pressure inside the artery increases. Secondly, if artery got constricted or blocked, then again pressure increases. Suppose this is an artery and it got constricted or lumen become narrow, so pressure is exerted or increased. Imagine a water pipe if you exert pressure over it or press it hard the pressure increases and water flows out very fast.
So what are the causes of constriction or losing the elasticity of the artery?
So when we are born and young arteries are very elastic but as we grow older the calcium deposition in arteries start occurring and due to stress free radical formation also occur in body and there is also scarring inside arteries as we grow old. And deposition of cholesterols in arteries causes the blockage in the arteries as we smoke or stress there is formation of free radicals inside which make scars in the arteries and nature using cholesterol plaque to cover the scar inside the artery and the lumen of the artery becomes thinner or narrower and which raises the blood pressure.
Most important mechanism these days is stress. Whenever people are in the stress arteries immediately getting restrict because adrenaline is released from the adrenal gland and it constrict the arteries which increases the blood pressure. As stress these days you know, very common, as people are working day and night these days on computer and internet.
Interviewer: What are the sign and symptoms of it?
Dr. Vikram Chauhan: When some people start feeling headache, dizziness, heaviness in the upper body or heat in the body and palpitations in the body. So when they go to see a doctor and check there BP, which usually comes on higher side.
Interviewer: So it is due to lifestyle or diet, or both?
Dr. Vikram Chauhan: It is due to both, as lifestyles have become so hectic, stress, negative thoughts they also play their role in it. Diet also plays an important role as these days people are not eating regularly. Eating patterns have changed. They are in a hurry some time eating much in quantity and sometimes less in quantity, eating in front of the TV, during running, in cars, trains anywhere which is improper way of eating.
Interviewer: so lifestyle and diet both are responsible for HTN.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan: Too much food is also one of the reasons for high blood pressure, also packaged food; junk foods are also one of the causes. These all are artificial foods as they are not natural and are not naturally made and made by man so they are artificial foods. Whatever you get in restaurants, packaged frozen foods they all are artificial foods such as Soft drinks and all these things.
Interviewer: Is there any treatment of this HTN in Ayurveda?
Dr. Vikram Chauhan: Yes, for hypertension, there are some herbs which help in clearing the plaque and prevent its deposition. For cooling down and prevents adrenaline surge. Keeps mind stress free. Also yoga and meditation have a role to play with meditation. They help a lot in keeping BP Normal. There are some herbs like Arjuna, which makes cholesterol to go away and keeps the arteries cleanse. Also keeps BP in control, reducing cholesterol levels and prevents plaque deposition. Along with Arjuna, there are herbs which are pitta pacifying herbs like Brahmi, amla, and we also use jatamansi to keep the pressure down. So these herbs don’t have any side effects and are very good.
Interviewer: People can use them regular?
Dr. Vikram Chauhan: Yes one can use them regular. And without any problem and after using them regularly to 3-6 months one can get rid of the problem.
Interviewer: So Arjuna can be used as preventive medicine?
Dr. Vikram Chauhan: Yes it can be used and Amalaki Saar can also be used. Arjun tea is there, total heart support capsules are there for cleansing the arteries. So these are wonderful formulations which can be given. To deplete the adrenaline levels we some time use Sarpagandha tablets and also very good to reduce adrenaline levels. So prevention of stress is very important. Sleep is very important and sleeping in time is very important. Stressful life should be avoided and natural lifestyle should be followed. Salt restriction should be followed and natural diet should be taken.
Interviewer: What about conventional methods are they holistic or they are prevention?
Dr. Vikram Chauhan: Conventional methods like the modern medical system they use chemical based drugs. They block heart for a while, or they dilate the arteries and reduce the pressure for a while so this is not the correct way and it is a temporary way for the problem and every day you have to take the medicine next day again they are constricted and next day again you gave the medicines and they again become relaxed. And so they become stiff.
Interviewer: Also, there are no conventional and preventive medicines
Dr. Vikram Chauhan: Yes, so it’s better to use Ayurvedic medicines. Amala, Arjuna, Brahmi, Shankhapushpi, jatamamsi.
Interviewer: Ok, thank you Vikram and thank you for sharing your views on this.
Dr. Vikram Chauhan: Thank you.
