Coronary Artery Disease: Effects of Ayurveda Diet Over Medical Treatment
In Adults With Advanced Coronary Artery Disease Can a Plant-Based, Ayurvedic Diet Stop the Progression of the Disease and/or Reverse its Effects Better Than Treatment with Medications and Medical Interventions?
Jennifer Dodge
Bryan College of Health Sciences
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a narrowing of the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. The narrowing is caused by a buildup of plaque in the arteries which is also called the hardening of the arteries. As the disease progresses, blood flow to the heart can slow down or stop. Individuals with this degree of disease typically have suffered from one or more heart attacks and may have signs and symptoms of ischemia such as chest pain and pulmonary edema. It is the leading cause of death in the United States for men and women. Treatment for CAD consists of taking one or more medications to treat blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol such as nitrates, calcium channel antagonists, ACE-inhibitors, and statins. The goal of these drugs is to reduce blood pressure to less than or equal to 140/90 and LDL cholesterol level less than or equal to 100 mg/dL. Some people can maintain a healthy life by changing their diet, stopping smoking and taking medication. Other people will need medical procedures such as angioplasty or surgery. Vegetarians have been shown to have a 24% reduced risk of dying from heart disease (Esselstyne, 2008). This literature review is being conducted to determine if an Ayurvedic diet can stop the progression of the disease and also reverse its effects instead of treating them with medications and medical interventions in adults with advanced coronary artery disease.
Literature Review In a study by Ornish, D., Scherwitz, L., Billings, J., Gould, L. (1998), the researchers discovered that the progression of coronary artery disease could be stopped or reversed without using lipid-lowering drugs. The progression was stopped by sustaining intensive
Jennifer Dodge
Bryan College of Health Sciences
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a narrowing of the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. The narrowing is caused by a buildup of plaque in the arteries which is also called the hardening of the arteries. As the disease progresses, blood flow to the heart can slow down or stop. Individuals with this degree of disease typically have suffered from one or more heart attacks and may have signs and symptoms of ischemia such as chest pain and pulmonary edema. It is the leading cause of death in the United States for men and women. Treatment for CAD consists of taking one or more medications to treat blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol such as nitrates, calcium channel antagonists, ACE-inhibitors, and statins. The goal of these drugs is to reduce blood pressure to less than or equal to 140/90 and LDL cholesterol level less than or equal to 100 mg/dL. Some people can maintain a healthy life by changing their diet, stopping smoking and taking medication. Other people will need medical procedures such as angioplasty or surgery. Vegetarians have been shown to have a 24% reduced risk of dying from heart disease (Esselstyne, 2008). This literature review is being conducted to determine if an Ayurvedic diet can stop the progression of the disease and also reverse its effects instead of treating them with medications and medical interventions in adults with advanced coronary artery disease.
Literature Review In a study by Ornish, D., Scherwitz, L., Billings, J., Gould, L. (1998), the researchers discovered that the progression of coronary artery disease could be stopped or reversed without using lipid-lowering drugs. The progression was stopped by sustaining intensive
References: Esselstyn, C. (2008). Prevent and reverse heart disease. New York, NY: Penguin Group. Ornish, D., Scherwitz, L., Billings, J., Gould, L. (1998). Intensive lifestyle changes for reversal of coronary heart disease He, F., Nowson, C., Lucas, M (2007). Increased consumption of fruit and vegetables is related to a reduced risk of coronary heart disease: Meta-analysis of cohort studies. Journal of Human Hypertension, 717-728 Kromhout, D., Menotti, A., Kesteloot, H., Sans, S. (2002). Prevention of coronary heart disease by diet and lifestyle Hu, F., Manson, J., Willett, W. (2001) Types of dietary fat and risk of coronary heart disease: A critical review Yancy, W., Westman, E., French, P., Califf, R. (2003). Diets and clinical coronary events. The Journal of the American Heart Association Irving, David (2011). A simple cure for heart disease. The Protein Myth. Retrieved from http://www.disinfo.com/2011/09/a-simple-cure-for-heart-disease/