Complementary therapies are commonly used alongside conventional treatment procedures to improve medical outcomes further while supporting the healing and overall health of the patient.
Relaxation techniques for digestive disorders or skin conditions, breathing exercises for respiratory conditions, and yoga for menopausal symptoms are some of the most commonly recommended complementary theories that work alongside traditional treatment options. So are there any complementary therapies for heart diseases that are shown to work?
Let us find out in this blog.
Complementary Therapies for Heart Diseases: Do They Work?
Because we cannot club them all into a single bucket, there is no definitive answer regarding the efficacy of complementary therapies. “Time and again, research has been positive about the impact of meditation and relaxation techniques on heart health. But the role of herbal supplements in assisting the traditional treatments is still a topic of ongoing research and debate in the medical community”, says a leading heart transplant surgeon in Hyderabad, Dr. Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale.
Remembering the fact that complementary therapies only assist, it is safe to assume that only a few complementary therapies work. And below are three proven complementary therapies that on-going research is positive:
Exercise and Physical Activity: Cardiovascular exercise in any form strengthens heart muscles and helps them improve their functions. It is even beneficial for people who have undergone cardiac surgery to treat their heart diseases. A tailored cardio program has various benefits, including more efficient function of the heart and lungs, faster recovery, and healthy heart and blood vessels.
Mindfulness–based Stress Reduction: After examining dozens of studies on the role of meditation in
improving heart health for last two decades, researchers today prescribe the inclusion of mediation techniques alongside the conventional treatment options.
Medication techniques are today found to improve heart rate variability for better heart function, reduce stress, improve sleep quality, and reduce inflammation –all leading to improved recovery and heart health.
Yoga: Yoga is another well-researched practice that has been found to play a vital role in improving overall heart health. It combines the best of both physical exercise and mindfulness meditation to give a simpler option for consistent–integration into daily life. Benefits of meditation like Improved heart function, reduces inflammation and improved sleep quality are all accrued with yoga practice as well.
Tailored Nutrition: No doubt, tailored nutrition helps improve heart function after traditional treatments. Especially inclusion of right amounts of omega-3 fatty acids and even Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is popularly prescribed by heart surgeons in Hyderabad to improve recovery.
But nutrition must be tailored for a specific individual based on their current medical status, restrictions, treatment options, and possible complications, according to heart transplant specialist in Hyderabad, Dr. Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale.
The above four are the complementary therapies that work well with traditional heart disease treatment options. They are deemed effective to the extent that they have become a compulsory inclusion in cardiovascular disease treatments and recovery plans. While all the above complementary procedures can be safely adopted in appropriate amounts, any other complementary therapies must only be followed after consultation with heart specialists.
If you are in Hyderabad and are looking to seek advice, Dr. Alla Gopala Krishna Gokhale is the best heart surgeon in Hyderabad who can help you. Contact him here: @Call 9603040506
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6664795/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2378842/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6172294/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23406526/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3413083/
