Mental, physical and social entities are inseparable and influence each other throughout the life. Many factors such as, anxiety, depression, unhealthy life style, unhygienic diet disturb mental and physical wellbeing. Anxiety, depression and social support are an important determinant of symptomatic and functional outcome. Providing social support can ameliorate symptoms and reassurance and patient’s education can bring about change in symptoms. Sandhigata-vata is described under vatavyadhi in all Ayurvedic texts.Dhatukshya is one of the main causes of vatavyadhi. This clinical condition is well comparable to osteoarthritis (O.A.), which is the second most common rheumatologic problem with prevalence of 22% to 39% in India. Demographic studies reveal that osteoarthritic changes commence between 4th- 5th decades of life. In present study, 56 patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of sandhigata-vata were subjected for the evaluation of dietary and life style related factors in the etiopathogenesis of the disease. It was observed that majority of patients followed viruddhaashana and vishamaashana food habits and had krura and madhyama koshtha. Females in the post menopausal age were observed in maximum and unwholesome diet, obesity, disturbed physical and mental health seemed to play an important role in etiopathogenesis of sandhivata (osteoarthritis).

Key words:Sandhivata, Osteoarthritis, Vatavyadhi, Life style, Dhatu-kshaya