Ayurvedic concept of hridroga its present relevance

Hridroga is among those diseases mentioned in Ayurveda where in the description is quite brief and the Ayurvedic view point needs clarification. In view of the increasing evidence of cardiac disorders in the present times this aspect assumes added importance. Among the five types of Hridroga described, in Vatika variety Ayurveda seems to have conceived the disease entity that comes under Ischemic Heart Disease. None of the other Cardiac afflictions seem to have been described under Hridroga. It seems that a few of the presenting features based on this Acute/important/predominant nature have been described Vatika Sotha and Swasa. It looks as though pain dominating heart disease is conceived as Hridroga. When oedema is found to be the main presenting feature it is kept under Vatika sotha and when Dysponea is the main symptom it is described as Swasa. The present article undertakes to discuss this point in detail, based on Ayurvedic concepts as well as current knowledge on medicine.