Sunday, March 4, 2007

Heart Attack Survivors

Dealing with depression By S. M. Acharya

Depressed heart-attack survivors may not follow
medical advice as per study results that were
published in the Archives of Internal Medicine's June
26, 2000 issue. Depression does affect survival of
those recovering from heart attack. Fear psychosis is
the main reason for depression after heart attack.
Hence, it is very important for patients to study
about his heart problems and exchange notes with other
similar patients and also discuss the same with his
doctor. The doctors should also give enough time to
hear the patients' problems and give them proper
advice to build their confidence. Instead, some
doctors issue warnings about minor lapses on the part
of the patients which make the latter further
distraught leading to more depression.

My own experience as a heart-attack survivor is that
the remaining life should be considered as bonus years
which the survivors can enjoy by engaging in some
useful activity as social service which strengthens
both the heart and the head by the sheer pleasure of
doing good. Such survivors should do some things that
interest them the most or take to some hobby depending
on their ability, experience and knowledge. As for
example, a survivor may take to letter writing on
subjects in which he has rich experience. The
newspapers are full of news pertaining to corruption,
social turmoil and what not. The pen is said to be
mightier than the sword; so why not wield it?

The human mind is very creative. In my own case, one
of the reasons why I got heart attack was my nagging
backache due to which I used to be bed-ridden for days
together without much activity which made me
over-weight. When large scale degeneration in the
spinal area was noticed, the doctors' prognosis was
that even if spinal surgery was done, I could not hope
to be normal except that I would be able to do some
work but not as before. Hence it was no use to get
operated because with advancing age, the degeneration
was going to increase further.

So after studying every thing possible about
backaches and observing the instinctive behaviour of
animals and birds, I could devise some simple nature
cure exercises which cured me completely of repeated
attacks of backaches. That gave me so much confidence
that I could help many other persons to cure
themselves with the same exercises. Similarly, the
heart-attack survivors can find some such pastime
which can engage them in useful social service
activity which strengthens the heart. That would also
ward off any chances of getting depression too.

S. M. Acharya
155 St. Patrick's Town,
Pune 411013, Ph: +91-20-2687020, Email:
smacharya@yahoo. co.uk

Simple Yogic Exercises

Three minutes a day;
"Keep the doctor away"
AND
When ever too tired; just lie down and do the same
relaxing exercises for about three minutes to come
out:
"FRESH LIKE A FLOWER"
each abd every time whether it is day or even dead of
night.

The following are the simple yogic exercises for
spinal health which is the master-key to all round
health of the body; mind and the soul:
1. Lie straight on a hard bed facing upwards, palms
under the head, relax and jerk up both the feet
towards the head without moving the heels. Rotate both
the feet, right foot to the right and left to the left
to join them again as before. Repeat ten or more
number of times.
2. Do the same movements in the reverse direction,
also 10 times or more and relax.
3. Jerk up the feet upwards as in 1 above and release
the pressure to go back to the original position, also
ten times.
4. Draw both the feet about two feet towards you, the
way it may be most convenient, as one normally does,
knees raised and feet on the bed, the way one keeps
them many times. Then lift up both the feet suddenly
keeping the heels there only. Then strike the knees
together quicly but softly and jerk back the feet with
a mild thud on the bed to the original position.
Repeat 10 times or more.
5. Lastly, draw back and straighten both the feet
together slowly at a snail's pace and when one is
fully stretched, take a deep breath and yawn to relax
completely. Get up sideways using the hands as the
lever without giving jerk and start walking normally.

By S. M. Acharya

(The writer is the Director of Nature Cure and Spinal
Rehab Centre and the founder of the new nature cure
technique, ATBSNR and can be contacted on 020-26870204
or by email at smacharya@yahoo. co.uk ; website
www.atbsnr.com)