By: Pradip Jamnadas, M.D.

Sometimes when I sit and talk with my patients, I can sense what they are feeling. I can tell they are experiencing something far beyond what they are telling me. When that happens, I often say, “I feel that there is more to this story than what you are telling me. I feel there is a problem.”

This is not exactly what people expect of me. As a cardiologist, my work with patients begins with lab tests, the assessment of symptoms and a subsequent diagnosis. When a patient comes to me with severe health problems, I immediately treat what I can treat as a physician. I can help lower cholesterol levels, manage hypertension or diabetes. But I teach my patients this is only part of the journey toward healing. It begins in the mind. I can sit and counsel a patient about his or her lifestyle until the cows come home, but I know they will not see real improvements until we understand why they do not have the desire or strength to do what’s healthy for them. They often need more than a change of lifestyle; they must change what I call their mindstyle.

It’s great if a patient goes to the gym and eats fruit every day. In the course of treating thousands of patients, I’ve discovered there is a great deal more to recovering from heart disease than making physical improvements, having a surgical procedure and taking medicine. The secret is to cultivate a healthy mindstyle, along with an improved lifestyle. I ask my patients: How are your relationships? How many people can you confide in? How much guilt are you carrying around? Are you happy in your marriage? How is your relationship with your mother?

The last question may seem silly, but it’s a great example of how our feelings and relationships can affect our health. You can tell a great deal about people’s mortality from what you learn about their relationship with their mother. That fundamental mother-child connection shapes every important relationship we have throughout life. A landmark study followed a group of medical students for 35 years after graduation. They were asked many questions to assess various health risks. The one question that was shown to determine their life span, above all others was: How is your relationship with your mother?

I also ask my patients: Who are you? They generally respond by saying, I’m an engineer or a lawyer. I’ll say, but you didn’t become an engineer until you were 24. So, who are you? This is part of the process of finding out what might have led to the habits that made them sick in the first place. We are not our profession, marital status or financial standing. Nor are we our emotions, which are fluid and shifting, not etched in stone.

To truly answer that question, we must all look to our core: the essence of who we were, before we began to define ourselves through achievements and possessions.

Roles change, looks change, possessions can be lost or sold, these things are not really that important. In order to be healthy, you must be centered, balanced and understand that you are a valuable, lovable, strong human being no matter what you own or where you work.

This concept is what I share with my patients. I try to empower them by explaining that they have the power to change whatever they need to change to free themselves of unhealthy habits. This is my prescription for healing through the mind and the heart.

Adjust your outlook. Several studies of health outcomes have found that optimists do better than pessimists. People who are upbeat about life have fewer infections, blood clots and strokes after heart surgery. I suggest to my patients they count the positives in their lives and focus on them daily.

Let go of anxiety. The old saying, “worrying never fixed a thing”, still holds true. At best, it may raise your blood pressure. Take each day as it comes, try to live in the moment and enjoy it whenever you can.

Be true to yourself. When you have a difference in what you have comes out of your mouth and what you really feel inside, you experience tension and confusion. Be respectful of others, of course, but respect yourself and your feelings first and foremost.

Nurture your spirit. Nearly every year, there is another study showing the connection between prayer and healing; spirituality and healing.

The reason is that we are not just physical beings; we are spiritual beings as well. No matter what tradition or method you choose, find a way to feed your soul.
Clear your mind. I teach meditation to my patients because it is the way to discover who you really are, discover your inner strengths and transform your thoughts. Once my patients master this, suddenly they find that they can lose weight, quit smoking, address relationship problems, let go of anger. All things become possible.

Once you embrace your ability to do all you need to do to be healthy and take care of yourself, you will see you can make miracles by tapping the power within. In 16 years of practice, I’ve seen it work for my patients again and again, your self awareness can add years to your life.

Pradip Jamnadas, MD, MBBS, FACC, FSCAI, FCCP, FACP Is an interventional cardiologist in Orlando, FL with a diverse patient base of more than 42,000 people. He lectures around the world on how your self awareness can add years to your life.