Heart disease remains the number one cause of death worldwide, affecting millions of people and leading to countless premature deaths. In the face of this growing global health crisis, Dr. Susheel K Sharma realised that traditional heart disease treatments, specifically interventional cardiology, only addressed the symptoms, not the root causes of heart disease. This led him to develop a holistic, integrated approach to heart health, blending his vast experience in interventional cardiology with lifestyle medicine, yoga, pranayama, Ayurveda, and other holistic practices.
In this blog, we will explore Dr. Sharma’s transformative journey from intervention to integration and how his DASH approach (Diet, Activity, Stress, Sleep, Social Interactions, Spirituality, and Harmful Exposures) and Lifestyle Plus program help patients achieve long-term heart health through a combination of modern medicine and holistic healing
Dr. Sharma’s Transition from Intervention to Integration
Dr. Sharma’s career began in interventional cardiology, where he spent over 25 years working with heart attack patients. During this time, he performed numerous life-saving procedures such as angioplasty and stent placements. While these procedures were highly effective in addressing immediate issues, they only treated the symptoms of heart disease and failed to address its underlying causes.
This realisation prompted Dr. Sharma to shift his focus from intervention to integration, seeking a more sustainable solution to heart disease. He began to explore the powerful role of lifestyle changes, including diet, exercise, stress management, and holistic therapies. His journey led him to study mind-body medicine and lifestyle medicine at renowned institutions such as Harvard University and the Cleveland Clinic, where he immersed himself in cutting-edge research on preventing and reversing heart disease.
The DASH Approach: A Holistic Lifestyle for Heart Health
Dr. Sharma's DASH approach is the foundation of his Lifestyle Plus program. DASH stands for:
The DASH approach emphasises that heart disease isn’t just about treating symptoms, it’s about addressing the root causes of the disease. By incorporating all elements of the DASH lifestyle, Dr. Sharma offers a comprehensive, integrated approach to improving heart health.
Personal Transformation and The Science Behind It
Dr. Sharma's journey played a pivotal role in shaping his integrated approach. Growing up in a family with a strong history of heart disease, he witnessed the impact of heart attacks firsthand, losing his father, mother, and brother to heart disease. This personal connection to the disease fueled his desire to find a more effective way to tackle heart health, beyond stents and bypass surgeries.
Dr. Sharma’s exploration of scientific research confirmed the potential of lifestyle interventions in preventing and even reversing heart disease. Studies from pioneers like Dean Ornish and Caldwell Esselstyn demonstrated the effectiveness of a plant-based diet, stress management, and physical activity in reversing coronary artery disease. Inspired by this research, Dr. Sharma created a program that integrates the best of modern cardiology with the healing power of mind-body practices.
What Makes the Integrated Approach Work?
Dr. Sharma’s Lifestyle Plus program, built on the DASH lifestyle, goes beyond traditional treatments that focus on surgery or medication. By considering the whole person, Dr. Sharma tailors a personalised treatment plan to each patient’s unique risk factors.
How Dr Sharma’s Lifestyle Plus Program Works
Dr. Sharma’s Lifestyle Plus program is based on the belief that heart disease is largely preventable and can be reversed with the right approach. Unlike traditional treatments, which often focus on surgery or medications, Lifestyle Plus emphasises long-term sustainable changes combined with scientific treatments. Here’s how the program works:
Assessment and Personalisation: Dr. Sharma evaluates individual risk factors such as cholesterol levels, blood pressure, triglycerides, obesity, diabetes, and genetic predispositions. Based on this evaluation, a personalised treatment plan is created to target these risk factors.
Diet and Nutrition: A whole-food, plant-based diet is the foundation of the program. This approach has been scientifically proven to lower LDL cholesterol, reduce inflammation, and improve overall cardiovascular health.
Exercise and Physical Activity: Regular physical activity is crucial for heart health. Dr. Sharma recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise per day, including aerobic exercises like walking, cycling, or swimming, to improve blood circulation and strengthen the heart muscle.
Stress Management and Yoga: Stress is a leading cause of heart disease. The Lifestyle Plus program includes yoga, meditation, and pranayama (breathing exercises) to help reduce stress, enhance circulation, and promote overall heart health.
Medications When Necessary: Dr. Sharma recognises that for some patients, lifestyle changes alone may not be sufficient. In these cases, medications like statins, PCSK9 inhibitors, and ACE inhibitors may be prescribed to help manage cholesterol, blood pressure, or other cardiovascular risk factors.
The Integration of Yoga, Pranayama, and Ayurveda
One of the standout features of Dr. Sharma’s program is its incorporation of yoga, pranayama, and Ayurveda. These traditional practices are rooted in thousands of years of knowledge and have been proven to benefit heart health.
Yoga improves flexibility, reduces stress, and enhances circulation, making it an ideal practice for those with heart disease or at risk of developing it.
Pranayama, or breathing exercises, help calm the nervous system, increase lung capacity, and reduce stress, all of which are vital for heart health.
Ayurveda offers personalised dietary plans, natural detox therapies, and body balancing techniques that work in harmony with modern medicine to restore health.
The integration of these therapies into Dr. Sharma’s Lifestyle Plus approach ensures that patients receive a comprehensive treatment plan that nourishes both the body and mind.
Conclusion: A Shift Toward Holistic Heart Health
Dr. Sharma’s journey from interventional cardiology to integrated heart care has proven to be a game-changer for many patients worldwide. The Lifestyle Plus approach goes beyond just managing heart disease, but it empowers patients to reverse it and achieve sustainable heart health. His program focuses on prevention, rehabilitation, and reversal of heart disease through a combination of diet, exercise, stress management, and medication. By taking a holistic approach, patients not only manage heart disease but also transform their overall well-being, leading to healthier, more fulfilling lives.
FAQs
Can heart disease really be reversed?
Yes, through lifestyle changes such as a plant-based diet, exercise, stress management, and holistic therapies, heart disease can be reversed in many cases.
What does the Lifestyle Plus program involve?
The Lifestyle Plus program combines lifestyle modifications (like diet and exercise) with medical treatments (when necessary), integrating therapies like Yoga, Ayurveda, and pranayama to support heart health.
How do lifestyle changes help in reversing heart disease?
Lifestyle changes reduce plaque buildup, improve circulation, and reduce inflammation, all of which contribute to heart disease reversal.
Is the Lifestyle Plus program suitable for everyone?
Yes, the program is personalised and tailored to meet individual needs, making it suitable for anyone interested in preventing, managing, or reversing heart disease.
What role do medications play in the Lifestyle Plus program?
While lifestyle changes are the cornerstone of the program, medications may be prescribed for individuals who need additional support in managing cholesterol, blood pressure, or other cardiovascular risk factors.
