11 December 2010
By Sruthy Susan Ullas
Bangalore, India
Sniffing this trend, a medical team headed by Dr L Mahadevan, consultant, Sharada Ayurvedic Hospital, Chennai, decided to do a study on the diseases affecting this urban community. The study, conducted by seven ayurvedic doctors from Chennai and Kerala, will be submitted to Ayush (the department of ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha and homoeopathy).
The doctors believe the study will surely corroborate anecdotal evidence about ayurveda’s efficacy. Already, doctors prescribe a detox regimen every quarter, besides regular exercise and healthy diet.
"I always believe ayurveda has fewer side–effects than other (medicinal) systems. It makes me feel secure and healthy," says Rajesh P, who works for a software company in Bangalore.
The study has investigated 150 techies in Bangalore and Chennai. Initial findings indicate that a majority had cervical and lumbar problems. Many suffered from back and neck pain. Significantly, the most common problem is chronic fatigue.
Other ailments that were noticed during the study: insomnia, migraine, infertility, obesity (which could lead to diabetes). Diseases like diabetes and heart diseases are rampant among other communities as well, and therefore cannot be associated with techies alone, the doctors point out. But the sedantry lifestyle makes IT professionals more vulnerable to these ailments.
Here’s a word of caution. "Infections can be treated. But chronic diseases like these can be avoided only through changes in lifestyle. Whatever diseases people generally suffer from between 55 and 60, IT professionals get by the age of 45," says Dr Mahadevan L, an ayurvedic consultant.
Doctors suggest detoxifying the body once in three months, meditation, suryanamaskar, regular exercises, anti–oxidants, low–calorie and high–fibre foods, and at least three litres of water daily.
The doctors also say that some stretching exercises have to be followed every hour during work. "It is up to individuals to go for ayurvedic treatment or any other alternative therapy. But the ayurvedic treatment is on the upswing," says Christina R, a software engineer.
What Doctors Prescribe
- Detox every 3 months
- Meditation
- Regular exercise
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