A Cross-sectional Study on the Nidanas of Sadaatura in relation with current occupational lifestyle in Information Technology (IT) workers.

Health is the main basis of attainment of Chaturvidha Purushartha namely Pious acts (Dharma), Wealth (Artha), Desire (Kama), and Salvation (Moksha). Ill health takes away the health and happiness from life. Thus, Ayurveda upholds the importance of occupation as a means and one of the steps in attaining Purushartha.

Recently the occupational pattern has changed and has given more importance to earning money, working harder and modernization. Modernization has caused people to go through an epidemic of lifestyle disorders due to stress, improper and irregular diet pattern, and sedentary lifestyle. This also becomes challenging for an Ayurvedic Physician to be able to protect the health of a healthy individual as well as control the disease of an ill individual as there is a large section of people who is constantly suffering due to failure in adopting the measures like daily regimen, seasonal regimen, proper diet, exercise, personal hygiene and codes of conducts mentioned in Ayurveda.

In the context of Phalamaatra Siddhi Adhyay of Charak Samhita Siddhi Sthana, various professions prone to disorders due to disturbed lifestyle and various lifestyle disturbances that become the cause for sadaturya are explained. Charakacharya has termed them as Sadaatura and a study of the causes reveals that health was not good among the people of a particular community in the ancient times as well. The four categories are shrotiyas (people belonging to priest class), raja-sevakas (servant of king), veshyas (Courtesans) and panya-jivina (merchants).  Further, Charakacharya mentions that apart from these categories, persons with different occupations who follow Nidanas namely Akalabhojan, Ahit Vihaar, Vega dharana, and Vega udeerana are also considered as Sadaatura.

Information Technology (IT) workers lead a very sedentary lifestyle. They are exposed to maximum screen time during their office hours and even after being at home. These people may lead to some serious illnesses due to their lifestyle. They are even reluctant to change it mostly because of the glamour of their field, the big salary, high position, and even satisfaction of their work. It is difficult to live in a way that is healthy when work takes up so much time and energy. Thus, by studying the causes of Sadaaturya in them can further help them make simple lifestyle modulations for living a better lifestyle in the long run.