Grandparents and older adults play a vital and often overlooked role in society. They are responsible for upholding traditions and culture and bringing additional wisdom into our lives. Grandparents’ Day is the perfect opportunity for us to take some time to celebrate and honor their vital contributions to society.
Above all else, grandparents appreciate spending quality time with family, and it is essential to let them know that they are loved and their company is cherished. But what is the best way to convey your love for them? Giving them the gift of health and wellness!
As humans age, our internal organs decline, affecting overall health and function. This makes the body prone to various kinds of health issues. A study found that over 85% of older adults have at least one chronic health condition, while over 60% suffer from at least two.
Awareness of health issues can help you prevent the conditions from worsening and prepare for any health emergency. Let us look at two of the most common health issues older adults face- sleep-related issues and high blood pressure.
Sleep Problems
Sleep-related issues and problems with falling or staying asleep advance with age. Over 50% of adults aged 65 years and above suffer from insomnia symptoms. Obstructive Sleep Apnea- OSA (breathing issues while sleeping) is another common sleep disorder among older adults, with over 70% of older men and 56% of older women suffering from it.
As adults age, they are likely to go through various issues that severely disrupt their sleep cycles and quality, such as-
- Preexisting health conditions (chronic pain, osteoarthritis, digestive issues, heart problems, hypertension, asthma, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc.)
- Mental health problems (depression, anxiety, stress, etc.)
- Side effects of conventional medications
- Fatigue
- Cognitive decline
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Lack of physical and social activity
- Worse quality of life
The common symptoms of insomnia include-
- Difficulty falling/staying asleep
- Waking up too early/in the middle of the night
- Feeling tired/sleepy even after a full night’s rest
- Irritability, anxiety, depression
OSA symptoms include-
- Shortness of breath
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Waking up abruptly gasping or choking
- Morning headache
- Mood issues
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
Hypertension is another common health condition among older adults. With age, the major arteries (blood vessels) stiffen, causing the blood to exert more force upon their walls. A 2020 study found that over 74% of people aged 65-94 suffer from hypertension. Moreover, in India, this condition is directly responsible for over 50% of strokes and 25% of heart disease deaths.
Factors like low fruit intake, obesity, improper dietary habits, family history of blood pressure, lack of physical activity, and consuming excessive salt can invite hypertension among the elderly. It is often called the ‘silent killer for the elderly because it shows no visible symptoms for a long time. Only when the condition gets worse over time do the following symptoms appear-
- Severe headaches
- Bleeding nose
- Breathing issues
- Chest pain
- Vision problems
- Blood in urine
- Tiredness
- Irregular heartbeat
It is essential to detect and prevent the condition early to avoid the risks of heart failure, strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases.
Sarpagandha Ghan Vati: An Essential Ayurvedic Medicine
Conventional prescription medicines for such health conditions seldom work effectively. Instead, they only work on the symptoms and not the condition itself, worsening it with adverse side effects on health. Ayurvedic doctors recommend certain vital herbs and formulations to alleviate such issues in a safe, effective, and holistic manner.
One of the most essential herbs in Ayurvedic medicine is Sarpagandha (Indian snakeroot/ serpentine root). It has been extensively mentioned in revered Ayurvedic scriptures, including the Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Ashtanga Hridaya, for its incredible efficacy in alleviating conditions like hypertension and insomnia.
It contains various phytonutrients, including alkaloid reserpine, which is known for its antihypertensive effects on the human system. It can be leveraged in the form of Sarpagandha Ghan Vati. When consumed, this formulation helps relax the blood vessels to allow easy movement of the blood through them.
The herb regulates nerve function in the muscles that lead to the heart, helping maintain a normal and healthy pace of blood circulation throughout the heart passages and the body. Hence, Sarpagandha plays an essential role in ayurvedic medicine for enhancing one’s heart health and function and alleviating cardiovascular conditions like-
- Hypertension
- Heart failure
- Stroke
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Rapid/irregular heartbeat
- Chest pain, and/or discomfort
- Palpitations
A study found that Sarpagandha exhibited robust cardioprotective and anti-atherogenic properties. This implies that the herb not only protects the heart’s health but also prevents the buildup of plaque (cholesterol, fats, and other substances) inside the walls of the arteries (blood vessels). Hence, it helps reduce high blood pressure among older adults.
Sarpagandha Ghan Vati’s Effect on the Brain
Besides enhancing heart health, Sarpagandha Ghan Vati helps alleviate insomnia and other sleep issues. The alkaloids in the herb have a sedative effect on the system that helps calm the agitated mind and the central nervous system (the brain and the spinal cord).
Because of these properties, the herb promotes deep sleep at night, improves sleep cycles, aInsteadances sleep quality. It directly influences the brain, making it efficacious for alleviating mental health conditions like excess stress, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, nervousness, and mood issues.
A recent study showed that besides improving blood pressure and cholesterol levels in patients, Sarpagandha Ghan Vatishowed significant improvements in their sleep profiles as well as anxiety levels.
This efficacy is the result of the herb’s Vata-balancing action. Since an imbalanced Vata dosha severely affects the brain processes and the nervous system, Sarpagandha balances it to influence the system directly, and effectively bring out the health benefits mentioned above.
Celebrate this Grandparents’ day by taking care of older adults in the best possible way and giving them the gift of better health and well-being! To know more about Sarpagandha Ghan Vati and how you can leverage it to improve your grandparents’ overall quality of life, contact Hempstreet and get the best Ayurvedic consultation.
References
https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/grandparents-day/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/insomnia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355167
