Non-pharmacological Treatment of Hypertension

Non-pharmacological Treatment of Hypertension with Yoga Exercise.
Martin Frolo, MD
Doctor of Internal Medicine and General Practitioner, Slovakia

Abstract

Despite highly systematic and financially subsidized programs in countries of the European Union and USA, the incidence of cardiovascular disease and mortality remains high, and cardiovascular diseases continue to be the leading cause of death in the population of economically developed countries. The last two decades has seen a trend in the concept of building highly specialized cardiac centers that provide comprehensive cardiosurgical treatment, treatment of arrhythmias, and mini-invasive interventional cardiology. Unfortunately, this treatment approach does not sufficiently emphasize the patient´s individual responsibility for their health, and alibistically the responsibility continues to shift to the doctor.

In our work, we would like to determine whether exercising according to the Yoga in Daily Life system – with a focus on cardiovascular diseases and arterial hypertension – complemented by a change in eating habits with a preference for plant protein, and the application of psychosomatic exercises and pranayama into daily practice, can result in a comprehensive change of lifestyle that can significantly benefit the treatment of the hypertensive patient without adverse side effects.

The project, which is currently monitoring populations with arterial hypertension in the Czech and Slovak Republic, is part of an ongoing comprehensive study evaluating the health benefits of Yoga in Daily Life for various modern diseases such as diabetes, bronchial asthma, and disorders of the musculoskeletal system.