A recent US study claims that in over 85% of stable cases of heart ailments, medical intervention like angioplasty or bypass surgeries can be avoided and medical therapy along with lifestyle changes works better.

The study named ISCHEMIA (International Study of Comparative Health Effectiveness with Medical and Invasive Approaches) was conducted on 5170 patients in more than 320 sites across the world including various sites from India. The trial was the most scientifically designed study (Randomized Controlled Trial) was presented on Saturday, 15^th November, 2019 at the annual meeting of American Heart Association (AHA) in Philadelphia. The results showed that bypass surgeries can be avoided through medical therapies and lifestyle modifications in mild to severe heart ailments(Except emergency).

Yoga and Diet based Lifestyle management :

Yoga and diet based lifestyle management along with optimum medical management is the key to the solution of heart diseases. Not only that they are highly effective for healthy heart, but also prevent Bypass surgery or Angioplasty. To avoid heart attack all the patients need is a through training on lifestyle along with medicines.

In the beginning of the study all the patients were TMT positive and 85% of them went for CT Angiography and 15% for conventional catheter angiography to assess the blockages. Almost 50% has severe angina, 33% had moderate angina and 12% had mild. Half of the patients went for bypass surgery or angioplasty and half were followed with optimum medical therapy(OMT) with lifestyle change. At the end of 4 years the death date was 6.5% and 6.4% in both the groups. Hospitalization with heart attack was also similar at 13.9% and 11.7%. This research concluded that if the patient in not having heart attack or angina at rest, doing stents or Bypass surgery does not give any advantage to the heart patients. The heart patients are better off if they are on Optimal Medicines with lifestyle change and concluded that for TMT positive cases stents or bypass surgeries are not required.

“The study results have put a big question mark on the use of unnecessary angioplasties and bypass surgeries in India.In India more than 5 lac stents are being put every year and some 60,000 bypass surgeries are being done in the heart hospitals and 85% of them are done on stable heart patients – which can be easily avoided.

The present study has proven that SAAOL’s approach to heart treatment is more scientific, reliable and cheaper as it involves Diet, Yoga, Stress management, exercise and optimal medical treatment. SAAOL (Science and Art of Living) has been treating heart patients for the last 25 years successfully and its theory is now being proven correct by the most modern medical research

SAAOL Heart Center,New delhi

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Do you know how to avert heart problems in winter? Low temperatures in winter can be detrimental for people with heart problems. This kind of weather makes the plaque in the arteries more probe to rupture, which can lead to a heart attack. This is also a season when the heart works doubly hard to keep the body warm. This and the fact that many people tend to binge on processed food without any physical activity to compensate for it, can make the situation worse. It is also imperative that we keep our vitals under check.

Winter is also a tough time for people with heart diseases and those prone to them. It is imperative to eat a heart-healthy diet, avoid binge drinking, and get adequate physical activity. If you are someone with existing heart problems, make sure to consult a specialist about adjusting the medication dosage. In case the symptoms exacerbate, get yourself checked immediately.

Some lifestyle changes one can make in winters are as follows:

• Do not ignore unusual symptoms like discomfort in the chest, sweating, pain in the jaw, shoulders, neck or arms as well as shortness of breath
• Do not take part in any strenuous activities to avoid unnecessary pressure on heart. Go for low-impact impact physical activities like brisk walk, jogging, yoga or aerobics.
• Monitor cholesterol levels and other vitals regularly and consult  doctor in case of anything unusual.
• Get enough Vitamin D by sitting in the sun and ask  doctor to adjust the dosage of  routine medicines
• Keep yourself warm, as hypothermia during the winter months is also common and can cause complications.
• Cover your head with a monkey cap.
• Stay away from binge drinking and eating.

Padmashri Dr K KAggarwal-President

The Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI).

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Mr. Balu was immediately admitted and diagnostic tests were performed which revealed that he suffered from a case of heart attack.  “Heart Attack is one of the most common heart conditions which affect approximately 10 million people in the country every year. A heart attack occurs when the flow of blood to the heart is blocked, due to the build-up of fat and cholesterol, which forms plaque in the coronary arteries (blood vessels that supply blood to the heart). This interrupted blood flow results in damaging or destroying part of the heart muscle.” says, Dr Sreekanth B Shetty, Senior Consultant and Head of Interventional Cardiology, Sakra World Hospital.

Over a period of time coronary arteries can narrow due to the build-up of plaque. During a heart attack, plaques tend to rupture and blood clot forms at the site of the rupture, if large enough it can completely block the flow of blood through the coronary artery.

The common symptom of heart attack is pain, tightness, pressure in your chest or arms that spread to your neck, jaw or back.  Nausea, shortness of breath, cold sweat, fatigue and light headedness are other symptoms associated with the condition. 

The emergency angiogram revealed the location of the blocked artery, which restricted the flow of blood.  Any delay in intervention could result in complicating the condition of Mr. Balu.  The patient and his family were convinced of the need for surgery and was rushed into the cathlab.  An emergency Angioplasty was conducted, the blockage was removed and stent was placed to mitigate complications.

In most cases heart attack turns fatal due to lack of awareness about the condition.  This case illustrates how timely help can save a heart attack patient’s life. The prompt action of his bystanders and immediate intervention by the doctors helped him make a quick recovery. Though heart attacks and heart attack angioplasty are an everyday occurrence, oftentimes patient’s or their relatives delay availing treatment and sometimes even stonewall attempts to counsel them to take the right decisions, all because of sheer ignorance and misinformation, often with fatal consequences. A person might look healthy on the outside, but that might not always be the case.  Patients with risk factors for coronary disease (such as smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.) should be particularly alert about these symptoms.

“I owe my life to the doctors at Sakra World Hospital and my friends.  If they had not brought me to the hospital on time, I could have lost my life.  I am forever indebted to them” said, Mr. Balu.

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