Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Excess salt raises blood pressure, and high blood pressure is one of the biggest drivers of heart disease over time. Limiting added salt — including hidden salt in packaged snacks, pickles, and papad — is one of the simplest protections for your heart.

Fibre — from whole grains, dals, vegetables, and fruit — helps lower cholesterol, keeps blood sugar steadier, and supports a healthy weight. All three directly reduce the strain on your heart and arteries.

Not quite. The goal is the right fats, not zero fat: limit deep-fried food, vanaspati, and processed snacks, while keeping healthy fats from nuts, seeds, and fish. Many “fat-free” products compensate with sugar, which is no friend to the heart either.

Yes — fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which support healthy cholesterol levels and heart rhythm. Grilled or curried is fine; deep-frying undoes much of the benefit.

For most people, even 30–45 minutes of moderate activity most days of the week gives excellent heart protection — consistency matters far more than duration. What harms the heart is the sedentary remainder of the day, so keep moving in small ways too.

Walking is genuinely one of the best exercises for the heart — it improves circulation, controls weight and blood pressure, and is safe for almost everyone. A brisk 30-minute daily walk is a strong foundation; add light strength work if you can.

Walking is the safest starting point for most heart patients, and it is the exercise we recommend most after surgery too. The right intensity depends on your heart's condition — always get your plan cleared by your doctor, ideally through a structured cardiac rehabilitation programme. Read more in our CABG Recovery Guide.

A major role. Diets heavy in deep-fried food, red meat, refined carbohydrates, and salt accelerate blockages in the heart's arteries — while a balanced diet built on vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats protects them. Combined with not smoking and staying active, food is among your strongest defences.

A person may experience a heart attack when the blood supply to the heart muscle is suddenly reduced or blocked, usually due to a blood clot.

There are very few people who have heart-related problems since birth. Most people develop these conditions over a period because of factors such as poor eating habits, lack of physical activity, and smoking. These factors lead to the narrowing and thickening of arteries (blood vessels), which may eventually lead to a heart attack.

When the arteries narrow down, it restricts blood supply to the heart. This condition causes a tight feeling, squeezing, and pain in the chest which is called angina. Symptoms that indicate angina are chest pain, shortness of breath, and pain in the arms, jaw, shoulders, neck, or back.

The most common sign is chest pain and uneasiness. Among many other signs are sweating, pain in the jaw, back, or arm, nausea, and shortness of breath.

If your family has a history of heart disease, there is a higher probability you may develop it. However, it is best avoided by managing blood cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and maintaining an active, healthy lifestyle.

The symptoms in a man typically include breathing difficulty, pain in the jaw and left arm, and intense chest pain. A woman may experience these same symptoms, but often with more dispersed pain around the neck, arms, abdomen, shoulders, or reaching the back. This pain is similar to indigestion, although it may not be consistent. It often presents with less pain and more anxiety, nausea, palpitations, and cold sweats. Data indicates that women suffer severe first attacks which may lead to death at a higher rate compared to men.

The heart does not stop beating in case of a heart attack. It continues to beat but with limited blood supply, which damages the heart muscle and makes it difficult to operate. A cardiac arrest, on the other hand, is when the heart suddenly and completely stops beating, which is immediately fatal if not treated.

Smoking damages the lining of the arteries, accelerates plaque build-up, thickens the blood, and reduces oxygen supply — a perfect storm for heart attacks. The encouraging part: risk starts falling soon after quitting, whatever your age. It is the single most powerful change a smoker can make.

Cholesterol is a fatty substance in the blood. The harmful type (LDL) deposits in artery walls and forms the plaques that narrow and block the heart's arteries; the protective type (HDL) helps clear it. Keeping LDL low — through diet, exercise, and medication when prescribed — directly lowers heart attack risk.

A combination of diet (fried and processed foods, excess red meat), inactivity, obesity, smoking, and — importantly — genetics; some people inherit high cholesterol even with a good lifestyle. That's why a simple blood test matters: you can't feel high cholesterol, you can only measure it.

It's one of the major ones, because obesity drives the others — high blood pressure, diabetes, and abnormal cholesterol often travel with excess weight. Even a 5–10% weight reduction measurably improves all three. No single factor acts alone, which is why we assess the whole picture.

High blood pressure forces the heart to pump against constant resistance, thickening the heart muscle and damaging artery walls over years — usually silently. Controlling it, with lifestyle and medication if needed, is one of the most effective protections against heart attack, heart failure, and stroke.

Diabetes damages blood vessels throughout the body, and diabetics develop coronary artery disease earlier, more extensively, and often more silently — sometimes with heart attacks that cause little pain. Strict sugar control, along with blood pressure and cholesterol management, is essential protection.

It can, in an important way. For diabetics with multiple blockages, strong evidence shows bypass surgery usually gives better long-term results than stenting — fewer future heart attacks and better survival. It also makes surgical planning and wound care more careful.

No. Angiography is a map, not a verdict — depending on the number, location, and severity of blockages, the right path may be medication, angioplasty with stents, or bypass surgery. Surgery is generally advised for multiple blockages, left main artery disease, or diabetes with multivessel disease. Our Angioplasty vs. Bypass blog explains how the choice is made.

It depends on your specific heart: how many arteries are blocked, where, how complex the blockages are, your diabetes status, and your heart's pumping strength. Simpler disease often suits stents; complex or multivessel disease usually does better long-term with bypass.

A Heart Team is a joint review of your case by both a cardiac surgeon and an interventional cardiologist, so the recommendation reflects what's genuinely best for your heart — not the specialty of whichever doctor you happened to see first. It is the modern standard for major decisions like bypass versus stenting, and it is the approach Dr. Amjad insists on.

For a major, planned heart operation — absolutely, and a good surgeon will never mind. A second opinion either confirms the plan and gives you confidence, or opens an option you hadn't been offered. Dr. Amjad provides detailed second opinions on angiography and echo reports: Request a Second Opinion.

Usually when the valve disease becomes severe and starts causing symptoms — breathlessness, fatigue, giddiness, swelling — or begins straining the heart even without symptoms. Mild disease is often simply monitored with echo.

TAVI replaces the aortic valve through a catheter from the leg — no chest opening, faster recovery — and suits older or higher-risk patients. Open surgery remains better for many younger patients and offers mechanical valve options. Dr. Amjad performs both, so the advice is unbiased: TAVI / TAVR guide.

No, bypass surgery (CABG) is not always necessary. An angiography is a diagnostic tool to visualize blockages. Based on findings, treatment options can range from medications or angioplasty (stents) to coronary artery bypass surgery.

Yes, many cardiac procedures can be performed using Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS). By accessing the heart through small incisions between the ribs rather than opening the breastbone, patients experience less pain and a faster recovery.

Hospital stays typically range from 5 to 7 days. Most patients can resume light daily activities within 4 to 6 weeks, and return to normal activities (such as driving or working) in 8 to 12 weeks, depending on their progress and doctor's advice.

Yes, mild chest wall discomfort, stiffness, or soreness around the incision sites is normal. If a leg vein was used for a graft, some swelling and discomfort in that leg are also common. However, severe, sharp, or sudden pain should be immediately reported to your doctor.

Keep incisions clean and dry. Wash them gently with mild soap and water daily, and pat dry. Avoid applying any creams, ointments, or powders unless specifically prescribed. Wear loose-fitting clothes to prevent irritation and monitor daily for signs of infection (like redness, swelling, heat, or leakage).

Focus on a heart-healthy diet low in saturated fats, sodium, and refined sugars. Incorporate fiber-rich foods, lean proteins (poultry, fish), fresh vegetables, and fruits to aid wound healing. Stay hydrated and follow any specific guidelines for diabetes or fluid restrictions if provided.

Walking daily is highly recommended, gradually increasing your pace and distance. However, you must avoid lifting, pushing, or pulling anything heavier than 5 kg (10 lbs) for at least 6 to 8 weeks to allow your breastbone (sternum) to heal completely.

Dr. Amjad is associated with premier hospitals across Mumbai, including Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Fortis Hospital, NewEra Hospital, Zynova Shalby Hospital, Criticare Hospital, and HVS Hospitals. He also consults at his own clinic in Ghatkopar West, Mon–Sat, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Contact / Book Appointment

Bring your angiography films or CD and report, your latest 2D echo, ECG, recent blood tests, a list of current medications with doses, and any previous surgical or hospital records. The more complete the picture, the more precise the advice in a single visit.

Yes — this is one of the most common reasons patients visit. Dr. Amjad reviews your angiography, echocardiogram, symptoms, and overall health in detail, and explains all your options — including when surgery is not needed. Request a Second Opinion

Yes — surgeries at our associated hospitals are covered by most major insurers, and the hospital insurance desks assist with cashless approvals. Bring your policy details and ID, and our team will guide you through the process.

Call or WhatsApp +91 89282 89254, email info@dramjadclinic.com, or use the Book Appointment form. The clinic is at 502, 5th Floor, Rajashree Plaza, Ghatkopar West, Mumbai – 400086.

Every heart is different — for advice specific to your reports and your health, book a consultation with Dr. Amjad Shaikh, cardiac surgeon in Mumbai.