Disease Begins Long Before the First Symptom
An Ancient Lesson on How the Way We Use Our Senses Shapes Our Health
“I don’t understand, Doctor. My reports were normal just a few years ago. How did I suddenly develop high blood pressure?”
It’s a question I hear often in my clinic.
Sometimes it’s diabetes.
Sometimes it’s migraines, thyroid problems, digestive disorders, or chronic fatigue.
People naturally look for a single cause.
But illness rarely begins overnight.
When we look more closely, we often discover that the body has been under strain for months—or even years.
Poor sleep.
Long working hours.
Constant stress.
Skipping meals.
Hours spent looking at screens.
Little time outdoors.
A mind that never truly rests.
Long before a disease appears on a blood test or scan, the body quietly begins losing its balance.
Thousands of years ago, the ancient physicians of India recognised this truth.
One of their timeless teachings says:
अतियोगो हीनयोगो मिथ्यायोगश्च कर्मणाम्।
Meaning:
Disease can arise from three kinds of misuse: overuse, underuse, or improper use of our senses and actions.
Although these words were written centuries ago, they may be even more relevant today than ever before.
Your Senses Are Meant to Guide You
Every day, your body receives information through five senses:
- What you see
- What you hear
- What you smell
- What you taste
- What you touch
These senses help you understand the world and respond to it appropriately.
Like every system in the body, they function best in balance.
Problems begin when they are overstimulated, neglected, or used in unhealthy ways.
Overuse (Atiyoga)
Modern life encourages excess.
We stare at computer screens for hours.
We scroll endlessly on our phones.
We expose ourselves to constant noise, bright lights, breaking news, and an endless stream of information.
Our taste buds are continually stimulated by foods that are sweeter, saltier, and richer than our bodies actually need.
Even our minds rarely get an opportunity to be quiet.
This constant overload keeps the nervous system in a state of alertness.
Over time, it can contribute to:
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Poor sleep
- Anxiety
- Digestive disturbances
- High stress levels
Sometimes, what the body needs most is not another stimulant—but a little silence.
Underuse (Heenayoga)
Health also suffers when our senses receive too little of what they truly need.
Many people spend very little time in nature.
They rarely experience sunlight, greenery, fresh air, or meaningful human connection.
Meals are eaten quickly without paying attention to taste.
Physical affection, laughter, and relaxed conversations become increasingly rare.
Gradually, both body and mind begin to lose the healthy stimulation that nourishes them.
This may contribute to loneliness, emotional exhaustion, reduced vitality, and low mood.
Just as excess can disturb health, so can deprivation.
Improper Use (Mithyayoga)
Perhaps the most important imbalance occurs when we use our senses in ways they were never designed for.
Examples include:
- Watching disturbing or violent content before bedtime.
- Constantly consuming negative news.
- Eating when stressed rather than hungry.
- Ignoring the body’s need for rest.
- Sleeping late because of prolonged screen time.
- Using food, alcohol, or social media to escape difficult emotions.
- Remaining in environments that create continuous emotional stress.
These habits slowly influence the nervous system, hormones, immunity, digestion, and sleep.
The effects may not be obvious today.
But over months and years, the body begins expressing this imbalance through symptoms.
Disease Often Starts Long Before Symptoms Appear
Many people ask,
“Why did this illness happen to me?”
In most cases, disease is not caused by one dramatic event.
It develops quietly through hundreds of small choices repeated every day.
Poor sleep.
Constant stress.
Lack of movement.
Emotional overload.
Unhealthy eating.
Excessive screen time.
Ignoring fatigue.
Each habit may seem insignificant on its own.
Together, they slowly reduce the body’s ability to maintain balance.
Restoring Balance
The encouraging message in this ancient teaching is that the very senses that contribute to illness can also become powerful instruments of healing.
Instead of overwhelming them, we can begin nourishing them.
See more sunlight than screens.
Listen to calming music or the sounds of nature.
Eat fresh, wholesome food mindfully.
Spend time with people who leave you feeling peaceful rather than drained.
Allow yourself moments of silence every day.
Walk outdoors.
Notice the fragrance of flowers after rain.
Read something uplifting before sleep instead of scrolling through your phone.
These may appear to be small changes.
Yet they send an important message to the nervous system:
“You are safe.”
Healing often begins when the body no longer has to remain in survival mode.
A Holistic View of Health
Modern medicine has given us remarkable tools to diagnose and treat disease, and these have transformed healthcare.
At the same time, ancient wisdom reminds us that true prevention begins much earlier—through the way we live each day.
As a holistic physician, I encourage my patients to look beyond the diagnosis.
Medicines are important when needed.
But lasting health also depends on how well we nourish our body, calm our mind, and restore balance to our daily lives.
Health is not built by one perfect decision.
It is built by hundreds of small choices repeated every day.
A Question Worth Asking Yourself Today
Before waiting for the next symptom, pause for a moment and ask yourself:
Am I giving my body the environment it needs to heal?
Are my eyes seeing things that bring peace?
Are my ears hearing more noise than silence?
Is my mind constantly overstimulated?
Are my daily habits helping my body… or slowly exhausting it?
The answers to these simple questions may be the first step toward better health.
Sometimes, the journey back to wellness does not begin with a new medicine.
It begins with a new way of living.
Dr AbhayTalwalkar
M.D.( Hom)
