An Ayurvedic approach to understand Systemic Hypertension and the role of diet and lifestyle in its preventive and palliative care

Abstract

In the present era, lifestyle induced chronic disorders occupy a major proportion of human suffering across the developing and developed nations. Among them, systemic arterial hypertension is a very commonly seen pathological entity. This disorder not only makes the afflicted people dependent on drugs life-long, if poorly managed it also leads to serious life-threatening complications like aneurysm, cerebro vascular accident, coronary artery disease, cardiac failure, renal failure, etc. While mechanisms like renin-angiotensin system have been well established for secondary hypertension, the exact underlying cause for primary hypertension is not yet conclusive and currently limited to identifying predisposing factors. To provide an effective palliative and preventive care through diet and lifestyle modifications, an Ayurvedic understanding of the pathophysiology of hypertensive condition is required. In the present study, the two important aspects of blood pressure, i.e., hydrostatic pressure and vascular stability is attributed to components of Vata- Dosha and therefore Systemic Hypertension is comprehended under the purview of Anyonya-Avarana. Here in, an effort is made to analyze the Doshic components, and few Nidanas that lead hypertensive conditions; and few suitable lifestyle modifications and regimen like Abhyanga and Nasya, which are simple yet effective, and advisable for preventive and palliative care of Systemic Hypertension, are put forth based on Ayurveda principles and textual references.