The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Healthy mind, body ensure healthy heart: cardiologist

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Tuesday, Sep 23, 2008
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Healthy mind, body ensure healthy heart: cardiologist

Special Correspondent

Meditation to calm the mind, yoga to set the body at ease suggested

— Photo: S.R. Raghunathan

HEART OF THE MATTER: (From left) Union Minister of State for Statistics G.K. Vasan; Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan; World Social Service Centre president S.K.M. Mayilanandham; and cardiologist V. Chockalingam, at the release of the book ‘Mind your Heart’ in Chennai on Monday.

CHENNAI: Matching positive changes in lifestyle with an effort to keep the mind at ease might prove to be the magic formula for a long and healthy life, cardiologist and professor of cardiology at Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, V. Chockalingam, said on Monday.

It was not only about what one ate or how one exercised, but also equally about what one thought, Dr. Chockalingam added at a function to release two books authored by him – Idhayam Kakha (in Tamil) and Mind your Heart – on the occasion of International Heart Day.

A healthy mind and body would ensure a healthy heart, he said. Advocating meditation to calm the mind and yoga to set the body at ease, Dr. Chockalingam followed it up with elaborate advice on appropriate diet and the right kind of exercises.

Indians were the most affected by Ischaemic Heart Disease, with four times higher risk than Americans and Europeans and 20 times that of Japanese. It was important to avoid mental stress, irregular meals, fatty foods and a sedentary lifestyle, as all of them would lead to heart disease. Even if blocks were to develop, it would be possible to reverse the condition if one followed a healthy lifestyle and set the mind at ease, he said.

The books were released by Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan and the first copy of the English book was handed over to N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu, and the Tamil book to SKM Mayilanandam, president, World Social Service Centre.

Well articulated

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ram said the book explored the central role of the mind in coping with heart disease and preventing it. He commended the author for well articulated technical arguments that were easy for the readers to follow.

Mr. Mayilanandam congratulated Dr. Chockalingam for his efforts to disseminate his knowledge and experience to a wide group of people.

Mr. Anbazhagan said while there was no means of quantifying the benefits that following the recommended lifestyle would ensure, there was no doubt that there would be benefits.

Union Minister of State for Statistics and Implementation G.K. Vasan suggested that programmes to raise awareness among people of heart disease and a healthy lifestyle should be conducted even in rural areas, at least in all district headquarter towns, so as to benefit more people.

Chancellor, Bharat Deemed University, Jagathratchagan; industrialist Kuppuswami Chetty, former Vice-Chancellor Avvai Natarajan, Bharat Scans founder R. Immanuel and Senthamarai Chockalingam spoke on the occasion.

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