Who is the Real Culprit Behind the Heart Attack? Is it Blood Clot or Blockage (Fatty Atheroma)?
Most believe heart attacks are caused by artery blockages—but is that the full story? Madhav Baug uncovers the real culprit:
April 21, 2025
India is home to 30 million heart patients and has the most heart failure deaths in the world. More alarmingly, population studies show an increasing rise in heart disease prevalence. Furthermore, heart disease is no longer a problem restricted to older people, as over 35% of heart attack patients are below 50 and 10% are under 30. Medications for heart disease are effective, but because it is a chronic condition, patients often need to take them for the rest of their lives. Ayurveda is a holistic discipline that can improve heart health and even offer a cure for heart disease. Several studies prove the efficacy of Ayurvedic therapies in the treatment of cardiac conditions, including heart disease.
An unhealthy lifestyle with low physical activity and a high intake of unhealthy processed foods is the main cause of heart disease in India. This ‘western lifestyle’ causes the build-up of cholesterol plaque in the arteries, which restricts blood flow to cause or exacerbate heart disease. Ayurvedic treatments for heart health include specialised diet plans, herbal preparations, therapeutic practices, yoga, and pranayama. These treatments help control and even eliminate the causative factors of heart disease, which ameliorate and even reverse the symptoms of this condition. Here’s why Ayurveda may hold the solution to heart disease:
In 1993, Dr. P. Mamgain published ‘A Critical Study Of The Concept Of Ischaemic Heart Disease In Ayurveda’ suggesting that ancient Ayurvedic writings could hold the answer to this modern disease. This was proved to be true when Dr. Rohit M. Sane published ‘A Novel Ayurvedic Approach For Management Of Chronic Heart Failures’ that detailed the heart health benefits of Ayurvedic treatments. The research shows that this Ayurvedic treatment can help increase oxygen uptake and reduce systolic blood pressure.
Poor circulation results in reduced blood supply to the heart muscles which results in ischemic heart disease. Ischemic heart disease is the most common type of heart disease and is currently the leading cause of death in India.
Ayurvedic practices such as Hrid Basti (where a warm herbal decoction is used topically) improve local blood supply by vasodilatation as well as reduce spasms of the intercostal muscles. Additionally, Ayurvedic herbal preparations that include Terminalia Arjuna increase the force of heart muscle contractions which improves blood circulation.
Ayurveda, especially specific yoga asanas and breathing techniques, are effective in improving the efficiency of the cardiorespiratory system. Improving the cardiorespiratory system will help to cure heart disease as a stronger system increases your heart’s ability to pump blood, which improves oxygen supply and reduces cardiac risks.
Dr. Rohit Sane and Dr. Milind Hanchate co-authored ‘SampurnaHridayShuddhikaran: An Interventional Health Model to Improve Quality of Life in Chronic Heart Failure’ – a research study that proved that this Ayurvedic treatment model improves aerobic function. VO2 max is the maximum rate of oxygen consumption, and it is used to determine cardiorespiratory fitness levels. This study showed that the treatment resulted in a significant increase in VO2 max level,s proving that the treatment model can contribute towards curing heart disease and related health conditions.
High cholesterol levels pose numerous health problems, but most importantly, it can lead to atherosclerosis, which is the formation of thickened cholesterol plaque on the inside of the arteries. An unhealthy lifestyle and diet cause a rise in LDL (bad) cholesterol while simultaneously lowering HDL (good) cholesterol levels. Ayurvedic treatments for heart problems often include therapeutic massages with sesame oil, as it can significantly lower high LDL cholesterol levels, help reverse atherosclerosis and cure heart disease.
Arteries are elastic, which allows them to stretch and distend as the heart pumps blood through the system. This elasticity is very important as it ensures that blood pressure remains relatively constant. Ayurvedic therapies help maintain the elasticity of the arteries and prevent them from hardening. This reduces the risk of heart failure and can also help cure heart disease.
Stress triggers the release of a surge of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. Adrenaline causes an increase in heart rate and elevates blood pressure, while cortisol increases blood sugar levels, which is why prolonged stress has a profound impact on heart health and is one of the main causes of heart disease in India. In his recently published study, “Evaluation of the efficacy of the Ischemia Reversal Program (IRP) as add-on therapy to conventional treatment in patients with Stable Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD)”, Dr. Sane showed that Ayurvedic therapies such as Swedana (fomentation). This therapy is particularly effective in curing heart conditions as it promotes physical as well as mental cleansing and helps reduce stress and anxiety.
Although Ayurveda is an ancient form of medicine, it has several benefits over conventional allopathic medication. Here are some of the benefits of Ayurvedic treatments for heart health.
Allopathic drugs for heart disease can cause a variety of side effects – antiplatelet drugs are linked to diarrhoea and dizziness, anticoagulants can cause gangrene, ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) can cause increased or irregular heart rate, anti-arrhythmic medications can cause blurred vision, and hypertension medications can cause erectile dysfunction in men. The risk of serious side effects increases with long-term usage, so people with chronic heart conditions are more vulnerable. In sharp contrast, studies show that Ayurvedic therapies are safe and effective, and their benefits increase with consistent use.
India’s healthcare system is grossly overburdened and even essential drugs are often unavailable. Furthermore, medications in the private market are very expensive and can drastically increase a patient’s out-of-pocket expenditure. However, Ayurvedic herbs are easily available and can even be grown in planters for instant access.
Ayurvedic therapies confer long-lasting benefits on patients that last for years. Dr. Sane’s “A Retrospective cohort to study the mortality and survival rate amongst Chronic Heart Failure (CHF) patients after Ayurvedic SampurnaHrudayShudhikaran (SHS) therapy” found that 72% of all patients exhibited remarkable improvement and that the results were found to be positive even after 3 years of treatment. This demonstrates that Ayurvedic treatments for heart disease are not only effective but also sustainable.
The increase in the demand for heart disease medication has resulted in a dramatic rise in the price of these medications. The high prices of these medications are particularly affecting the rural areas, where up to 80% of all out-of-pocket expenditure is on medicines. Ayurveda offers an economically viable solution to the problem, as it not only reduces an individual’s dependence on allopathic medicines but also helps ease the burden on the entire healthcare system.
Ayurvedic heart health treatments involve a combination of therapies that work synergistically to improve cardiac function. These holistic treatments improve overall health and will help decrease the risk of other health problems. Since Ayurveda promotes physical, mental, and emotional health, patients will not only prolong their life span but also improve their quality of life.
Ayurvedic treatments for heart disease can be used alone or as adjuncts to allopathic treatments, depending on the severity of the condition. Although Ayurveda can help cure heart disease, you need to consult your doctor before you make any changes to your daily routine. Ayurvedic experts will be able to provide you with a heart health plan that is best suited to your needs.
Most believe heart attacks are caused by artery blockages—but is that the full story? Madhav Baug uncovers the real culprit:
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