Jammu, June 04: Head of Department Cardiology, GMCH Jammu Dr Sushil Sharma on Sunday organized a cardiac awareness cum health checkup camp in association with SVS Charitable Trust at Rajouri “to enlighten the masses regarding the role of religion and spirituality in the prevention of cardiac ailments”.
The camp was inaugurated by Shri Shri 1008 Swami Vishwatamanand Ji Maharaj along with Dr Sushil Sharma and Shri Vibodh Gupta amidst Vedic invocations for universal peace and health for all. Around 2000 people benefitted from the health checkup camp. Free medicines were given as per advice. Important body tests viz., ECG, Lipid-profile, BMD, and blood sugar were also done, a press release issued here said.
On the occasion, Shri Shri 1008 Swami Vishwatamanand Ji Maharaj said, “Religion is an important aspect of health care and attention to religious needs has been increasingly emphasized by healthcare professionals. The strength and comfort obtained from one’s faith in a personal relationship with God as a higher power include a sense of meaningfulness and well-being.”
“Religious coping strategies and a sense of meaning help the patients suffering from chronic diseases to trust their strengths and accept new conditions and cope through finding their inner selves,” he added.
While interacting with the people Dr Sushil said that studies have reported positive relationships between religiosity, general health, and mortality. Some studies suggested that more frequent participation in religious activities led to lower rates of smoking, and others reported that practicing religion may be related to lower all–cause mortality, he said.
“Religiosity may improve health through several mechanisms. Religiosity may improve stress levels by providing an outlet to cope as it also encourages people to live healthy lives, including the prevention of substance or alcohol abuse. Social support among believers may also provide positive effects on their health. Prayer and meditation as a part of religious activities may also be a form of relaxation,” he said.
Dr Sushil elaborated that patients may find purpose, community, and encouragement through religious or spiritual practices and beliefs or other coping mechanisms that can help them engage with and sustain positive lifestyle changes.
“Several studies found that patients who can cope with their new reality improve their physical and mental performance. Mere emphasis on the physical aspect is not adequate for patients’ health and welfare; the contribution of other strategies including religious coping ones is required. This makes spirituality and religion an integral component of comprehensive care,” Dr Sharma said.
