Frequently Ask Questions (FAQs)**

No. It does not replace the traditional therapy. It complements the conventional approach and enhances the benefits of medications and interventions.

The Universal Healing Program (UHP) consists of diet counseling, light exercise, yoga including progressive deep relaxation (Shavasana), meditation and group discussion with emphasis on the sharing of feeling.

The purpose of yoga is to bring about the relaxation of the body and the mind. It is easier to relax the body than the mind. Moderate stretching exercises followed by relaxation, makes the relaxation easier. When the body relaxes the mind automatically begins to relax. The mind is present in every cell of the body. Progressive deep relaxation, i.e. shavasana, achieved in this manner is yoga.

Sit down in a relaxed manner, close the eyes and simply concentrate on breathing. Thoughts may come and go but remain unconcerned. Breath is life. When you are breathing, it is not only air that you breathe in; you breathe in light and life force also. Thus your consciousness becomes one with your breath, your life force and healing follows. This is meditation.

In an average Indian diet, the fat content is about 30 – 40% of the total calories. Recommended fat intake for a heart disease patient is less than 10%. The diet recommended is purely vegetarian. It should be rich in complex carbohydrates and vegetable proteins, like grains, pulses, lentils, fresh green vegetables and season’s fruits. However, intake of simple carbohydrates and excessive use of salt should be limited. Simple carbohydrates include refined sugar, jaggery, polished rice, preparations of rice (puffed rice, and poha), soft drinks, fruit juices, honey and sugarcane juice.

If you experience discomfort in the chest, like a feeling of tightness or severe pain, which may or may not radiate to either of the arms, with or without a choking sensation in the throat or any unusual feeling of distress in the chest, you should immediately call for an ambulance to get your pain evaluated in a nearby hospital. This is important if you are prone to coronary heart disease because of strong family history, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol or a habit of smoking. If the pain is diagnosed as acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) or unstable angina, then angiography followed by angioplasty or bypass surgery is necessary. One 325 mg tablet of Aspirin (to be avoided if there is known allergy to aspirin) dissolved in water should be taken immediately. Four to eight pills of 75 mg of Clopidogrel may be taken with a glass of water and a Sorbitrate can be taken under the tongue if there is delay in getting emergent medical help.

A carefully taken history, ECG, exercise treadmill test and at times 2D ECHO are enough to diagnose that the patient has diminished coronary circulation because of narrowing of the coronary arteries due to atherosclerosis. Coronary angiography is usually advised only when the clinical condition of the patient is such that herequires intervention by angioplasty or bypass surgery.

In a large majority of patients with chronic angina and normal ejection fraction of the left ventricle, conservative medical management is all that is required. Bypass surgery or stenting is unlikely to prolong survival in this situation. Angioplasty or by-pass surgery may prove to be beneficial to the patient of incapacitating angina and diminished left ventricular ejection fraction. Even for such patients, if they want to avoid surgery or stenting for some reason, intensive medical management including lipid-lowering medications aiming to lower LDL cholesterol to less than 70 mg/dl, in-depth stress management and other risk factor modification will help.

It is important to realize that a severe heart attack does not occur commonly because of an artery which is already more than 70% blocked. The heart attack occurs more frequently in the artery which is less than 60% blocked. This may be explained to some extent by the fact that there are many areas of the arteries which have less than 60% blockage compared to areas with more than 70% blockage.When a heart attack occurs, the affected artery gets 100% blocked. Many times even if the artery gets 100% blocked, it happens slowly enough so that there is chance to develop collateral circulation and hence there is no heart attack. Once the artery is already 100% blocked, there is no risk of heart attack happening from that artery. On a routine check up even if all the three arteries are severely blocked and the ejection fraction of the left ventricle is normal, mostly medical management with risk factor modification may be sufficient. The fact that the ejection fraction is normal in spite of blockages in arteries shows that there is sufficient collateral circulation available to the heart muscle. In other words, natural bypass may have already taken place.

Life-style changes and treatment of high cholesterol by appropriate treatment aiming to bring the LDL cholesterol below 70mgm will halt the progress of narrowing of the arteries due to atherosclerosis and will result in reversal of blockages. Heavily calcified blockages are slow to reverse. However, most blockages get naturally bypassed through collateral circulation. Regular moderate exercise, maintenance of normal weight, normal BP, normal postprandial blood sugar will increase collateral circulation.

While treating coronary heart disease patients and advising them to make lifestyle changes, like
giving up smoking, giving up excessive use of alcohol, and losing weight, we felt that patients change their lifestyle out of fear of the disease, whereas practice of Universal Healing Program empowers them to change their lifestyle without a sense of deprivation and reduces the fear of disease. All studies related to coronary heart disease done to date have shown conclusively that beta-blockers which reduce sympathetic activity are helpful in preventing heart attack. Beta-blockers only partially neutralize the harmful effects of increased mental & physical stress. UHP appears to be a beta-blockerpar excellence. It helps to control all the harmful effects of stress and helps the therapeutic measures to prevent plaque rupture and plaque stabilization. It heals isolation, reduces hostility, self-centeredness and cynicism - proven toxins to the heart and body as a whole. The program provides a successful cost- effective integral approach to management of coronary heart disease.

Regular practice of Shavasana and Meditation helps the patient to experience his SOUL FORCE
by quieting outer activities of mind and body. The SOUL FORCE is common to all living creatures. This experience increases the inner strength of individual to change his lifestyle and face the stresses of life with equanimity.

Maintain normal weight. Follow regular moderate exercise like walking on a level surface for 40 minutes daily or at least 5 times in a week. Avoid tobacco in any form. Avoid unaccustomed heavy exertion immediately after meals. Keep blood pressure below 130 / 80, blood sugar 2 hours after meals below 140 mgm, total cholesterol below 150 mgm, HDL cholesterol above 45 mgm and LDL cholesterol below 70 mgm and trigly cerides below 140 mgm. People with a strong family history of coronary heart disease should have a ratio of total cholesterol to HDL below 4 and a ratio of LDL to HDL below 2. Regular practice of Shavasana and Meditation is a proven antidote for the harmful effects of physical and mental stress.

Nutritious diet, pure drinking water and sunlight are important for our health. However equally important, or perhaps more vital, is to have the feeling of harmony in our mind. Harmony is the quality of Soul, which is the Source of our existence common to all of us. Discord is the quality of our mind. In our varied existence, it is natural that harmony is disturbed very often. Our health depends upon how soon we establish the feeling of harmony once again. Practice of Shavasana and Meditation by relaxing the body and calming the mind makes one experience the inner oneness of our existence and thus helps to re-establish harmony.

As the last word is not yet written regarding the treatment of coronary artery disease, such difference of opinions may occur. More than one opinion is helpful and is encouraged in many situations. Unbiased opinion from a clinical cardiologist may be helpful to resolve the confusion. The whole issue is very complex. A decision for or against intervention depends upon a variety of factors and circumstances

Three conditions vital to the curing of any disease are:
1. The doctor’s faith in himself to cure his patient.
2. The patient’s faith in his doctor that he will cure him.
3. The doctor’s Karma - his skill and its application with love. The doctor’s only source of income is the patient. However when he examines the patient, he should not see him only as a source of income. If he listens to the patient with empathy and concern for his suffering, treatment becomes more effective.

In addition to mainstream medical treatment,
The program consists of:
• Diet counselling • Moderate exercise like walking on a level surface for 30 to 40 minutes • Stretching and relaxation exercises leading to progressive deep relaxation, i.e. Shavasana. • Meditation and visual imagery. • Group discussion with an emphasis on the sharing of feelings. The Program increases the inner strength of the participant to make the life style changes and also helps to overcome the fear of disease

It is important to realize that a severe heart attack does not occur commonly because of an artery which is already more than 70% blocked. The heart attack occurs more frequently in the artery which is less than 60% blocked. This may be explained to some extent by the fact that there are many areas of the arteries which have less than 60% blockage compared to areas with more than 70% blockage. When a heart attack occurs, the affected artery gets 100% blocked. Many times even if the artery gets 100% blocked, it happens slowly enough so that there is chance to develop collateral circulation and hence there is no heart attack. Once the artery is already 100% blocked, there is no risk of heart attack happening from that artery. On a routine check up even if all the three arteries are severely blocked and the ejection fraction of the left ventricle is normal, then mostly medical management with risk factor modification may be sufficient. The fact that the ejection fraction is normal in spite of blockages in arteries shows that there is sufficient collateral circulation available to the heart muscle. In other words, natural bypass may have already taken place.

Life-style changes and treatment of high cholesterol by appropriate treatment with a lipid lowering agent. aiming to bring the LDL cholesterol below 70mgm will halt the progress of narrowing of the arteries due to atherosclerosis and will result in reversal of blockages. Heavily calcified blockages are slow to reverse. However, most blockages get naturally bypassed through collateral circulation. Regular moderate exercise, maintenance of normal weight, normal BP, normal postprandial blood sugar will increase collateral circulation.

If you experience discomfort in the chest, like a feeling of tightness or severe pain, which may or may not radiate to either of the arms, with or without a choking sensation in the throat or any unusual feeling of distress in the chest, you should immediately call for an ambulance to get your pain evaluated in a nearby hospital. This is im portant if you are prone to coronary heart disease because of strong family history, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol or a habit of smoking. If the pain is diagnosed as acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) or unstable angina, then angiography followed by angioplasty or bypass surgery is necessary. One 325 mg tablet of Aspirin (to be avoided if there is known allergy to aspirin) dissolved in water should be taken immediately. Four to eight pills of 75 mg of Clopidogrel may be taken with a glass of water and a Sorbitrate can be taken under the tongue if there is delay in getting emergent medical help.

As the last word is not yet written regarding the treatment of coronary artery disease, such difference of opinions may occur. More than one opinion is helpful and is encouraged in many situations. Unbiased opinion from a clinical cardiologist may be helpful to resolve the confusion. The whole issue is very complex. A decision for or against intervention depends upon a variety of factors and circumstances.

In an average Indian diet, the fat content is about 30 - 40% of the total calories. Recommended fat intake for a heart disease patient is less than 10%. The diet recommended is purely vegetarian. It should be rich in complex carbohyd rates and vegetable proteins, like grains, pulses, lentils, fresh green vegetables and season's fruits. Ho wever, intake of simple carbohydrates and excessive use of salt should be limited. Simple carbohydrates include refined sugar, jaggery, polished rice, preparations of rice (puffed rice, and poha), soft drinks, fruit juices, honey and sugarcane juice.

Obesity is on the increase worldwide. It is a complex multifactorial disease of appetite regulation and energy metabolism. Hence losing weight is not simple. A diet with too much fat is at the root of this problem. The body needs only four to six per cent of the total calories intake as fat, whereas most people consume 35 to 40 percent of total calories as fat. Vegetarians use too much oil in their diet. Consumption of sweets, ice cream, chocolates, cookies, soft drinks etc. has increased significantly as a part of modern life style. All these contain too many simple carbohydrates in the form of sugar which is an important factor in causing excess weight. Sedentary life, hypothyroidism, corticosteroids, antidepressant medications and heredity are also major causes of excess weight. The use of excessive salt in a diet tends to cause water retention in the body. Hence, it is difficult for lovers of salt to lose weight.Isolation also plays an important role in the cause of obesity. People try to fill their inner emptiness by overeating. Meditation calms down your body and mind to such an extent that you discover why you overeat. Prolonged rhythmic light exercise provides an opportunity for the body to burn fat as fuel. Research has further shown that regular light exercise reduces hunger. While counseling a person with gross obesity, one should have adequate patience and compassion. It should be explained that even a small reduction in weight leads to a large benefit in health.

The program consists of:
•Diet counseling •Moderate exercise like walking on a level surface for 30 to 40 minutes •Stretching and relaxation exercises leading to progressive deep relaxation, i.e. Shavasana. •Meditation and visual imagery. • Group discussion with an emphasis on the sharing of feelings.

While treating coronary heart disease patients and advising them to make lifestyle changes, like giving up smoking, giving up excessive use of alcohol, and losing weight, we felt that patients change their lifestyle out of fear of the disease, whereas practice of Universal Healing Program empowers them to change their lifestyle without a sense of deprivation and reduces the fear of disease; All studies related to coronary heart. disease done to date have shown conclusively that beta-blockers which reduce sympathetic activity are helpful in preventing heart attack. Beta-blockers only partially neutralize the harmful effects of increased mental & physical stress. UHP appears to be a beta-blocker par excellence. It helps to control all the harmful effects of stress and helps the therapeutic measures to prevent plaque rupture and plaque stabilization. It heals isolation, reduces hostility, self-centeredness and cynicism -- proven toxins to the heart and body as a whole. The program provides a successful cost-effective integral approach to management of coronary heart disease.

Regular practice of Shavasana and Meditation helps the patient to experience his SOUL FORCE by quieting the activities of mind and body. The SOUL FORCE is common to all living creatures. This experience increases the inner strength of individual to change his lifestyle and face the stresses of life with equanimity.

Nutritious diet, pure drinking water, sunlight, and moderate exercises are important for our health. However equally important, or perhaps more vital, is to have the feeling of harmony in our heart. Harmony is the quality of Soul, which is the Source of our existence common to all of us. It is natural that harmony is disturbed very often during our life. Our health depends upon how soon we establish the feeling of harmony once again. Practice of Shavasana and Meditation by relaxing the body and calming the mind makes one experience the inner oneness of our existence and thus helps to reestablish harmony.

Three conditions vital to the curing of any disease are:
1. The doctor's faith in himself to cure
his patient.
2. The patient's faith in his doctor that he will cure him.
3. The doctor's Karma - his skill and its application with love. The doctor's only source of income is the patient. However when he examines the patient, he should not see him only as a source of income If he listens to the patient with empathy, treatment becomes more effective.