Abstract

EMERGENCE OF EPIGENETICS IN AYURVEDIC PREVENTIVE CARDIOLOGY: THE LONG ROAD AHEAD

Nayana B.* and Smitha Bhat

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Abstract

Industrialization of economy with a resultant shift from physically demanding to sedentary jobs along with technology driven culture may explain the steady increase of cardiovascular diseases during the last few decades. Since past few decades, public preventive strategies had always relied on managing environmental factors that contribute to cardiac disorders. Recently, understanding the contributory role of genetics in cardiovascular development has become more relevant as researchers have began to link genetics with disease and its response to therapy. Epigenetics deals with virtually everything that happens to the expressed genes in the phenotype during phases of lifespan like diet, lifestyle, stress and other environmental factors that impact gene expression. This review is to convey the relevance of understanding Charyas (practices) mentioned in ayurvedic classics in the field of preventive cardiology using the science of epigenetics as well as to express how genes can predispose individuals to cardiac disorders and applying this knowledge to more comprehensive preventive strategies in future.

Keywords: Epigenetics; Ayurveda; Preventive Cardiology; Diet and Lifestyle Modification.