Add-on effect of Nagabala–Arjunadi yoga on left ventricular ejection fraction and New York Heart Association functional capacity in post- myocardial infarction – An experience

Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs), especially Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), are epidemic in India. The annual number of deaths from CVD in India is projected to rise from 2.26 million (1990) to 4.77 million (2020). CHD prevalence rates in India have been estimated over the past several decades and have ranged from 1.6% to 7.4% in the rural population and from 1% to 13.2% in the urban population. Myocardial Infarction (MI) is the most common form of CHD. Many clinical and laboratory factors, such as persistent ischemia and depressed Ejection Fraction (EF), have been identified with an increase in cardiovascular risk after initial recovery from MI. Even though conventional medicines are excellent life-saving measures in MI, quality of life is always a concern. A 56-year-old male, presented to Ayurveda hospital with exertional dyspnea and pain in the chest for one year, following secondary prevention, and had two episodes of documented MI in 2017 and 2020, respectively. Two-dimensional echocardiography (dated July 15, 2021) revealed septal and apical wall hypokinesia and an EF of 50%. The two month intervention with Nagabala–Arjunadi yoga improved the EF to 10 percentiles (5%), and wall motion abnormality was reduced to a physiological limit. The overall status of the New York Heart Association classification was improved from Class II to Class I. The quality of life assessed by the MacNew questionnaire also showed a significant difference. This case report revealed that the Ayurvedic internal medication is helpful in improving the post-MI functional capacity of the patient.