Heart patients find hope in reversal programme

Initiated by Dr Jagdish Hiremath, the programme is a near-exact replica of the guidelines of the book Reversing Heart Diseases,8217; written by American cardiologist Dr Dean Ornish.

Based on yoga, pranayama and meditation, Dr Hiremath says it improves stamina significantly, and maintains optimum levels of sugar, cholesterol and weight among heart patients. 8220;This six-month programme also acts as a preventive measure against heart diseases for those above 30 years,8221; he says.

Describing chain smoking without regular exercise as the main culprit behind the increased risk of heart attacks among those between 35-45 years, Dr Nitin Unkule, yoga expert and one of the faculty, said that obesity, irregular, high-cholesterol diets and stress also need to be regulated. 8220;Therefore we advocate a strict vegetarian diet and regular exercise to our participants,8221; he said.

Dr Hiremath will present a slide show on his experiments at the Tilak Smarak Mandir on August 24, at a function about this programme, which is priced at Rs 6,000. Dr H V Sardesai will be chief guest at the function, where Dr Unkule and Dr Rajendra Bahale will speak.