Tips: How to prevent a heart attack

In an online chat with Get Ahead readers Dr Anil Bansal, Chief Cardiologist at Columbia Asia Hospital, answered queries related to heart ailments.

Here is the unedited chat transcript:

vivek kadam: after angioplasty what precautions to be take

Anil Bansal: please take all the medicines as prescribed by the cardiologist ,donot stop medicines on ur whim

Anand Tiwari: Gd Noon Sir,Myself Anand Tiwari from Mumbai. I feel Heaviness in left side of chest at the area of heart whenever I have Smoking a cigarette and within 5-10 minutes the heaviness feeling disappears automatically. Though I am not a active Smoker.Please advice the cause and remedy.Thanks

Anil Bansal: please immediately see a cardiologist, today now

Dinesh-Damania: Had H attack in last Nov 12, Stan has insurted, still my left sholder is hvg pain, is it connected to heart ???

Anil Bansal: shoulder arm syndrome is common after heart attack, do physiotherapy

RaviCM: Hi Dr.Sir,This is Ravi here aged 55 yrs, underwent 'Angioplasty' with medicated stent for single block in LAD 4 yrs back. What are the chances of recurrence ? I maintain very strict veg diet, all my Lipids are normal & walk for 1 hr daily in the morning. Apart from diet & walking, no other exercise. I am still in service (private MNC)

Anil Bansal: ravi,chances of recurrence depend on the quality of stent used latest stents by boston scientific have the lowest recurrence rate

kamala jain: hello doctor i underwent an angioplasty in 2010 with a single stent yet my ecg and stress test shows abnormality my doctor says its okay. can u tell me if its really ok

Anil Bansal: yes the ecg abnormalities can persist, they should not change with symptoms, if they do then consult a cardiologist -- a cardiologist has to be DM, MD are general physicians

vasudev narasimhan: I am taking insulin 26 units in morning and 26 units in the evening. 1/2 IMDUR 30 in the morning, Gemer 1-0-1, Ceruvin A,0-1-0 Seloken XL25 1-0-0 IS THIS O.K DOCTOR? WORRIED ABOUT MY TMT SHOWING SLIGHTLY POSITIVE FOR INDUCIBLE ISCHEMDIA. Your reply will help me.

Anil Bansal: u should get an angiography to assess the presence of blockages which are common in diabetics

Indranil: is angiography the only method to confirm blockages??

Anil Bansal: yes the cheapest and most fool proof method

GAURAV KUMAR: Dear Sir,I want to know regarding Angioplastyic for any side effect.My mother got STEN in April 2013 for 90% blokage in her left arteries,therafter she is not able eat proper diet, she hardly eats 1-2 chappati.Regulary she is having vomitting , her age is 65 yrs and diabetic for 15 yrs.Her health is detoriating. Please suggest. Rgds,Gaurav

Anil Bansal: the vomiting is due to anti diabetics meds she needs to see a good doctor

khatau limited: Respected Sir,First Thanks for speraing your valueable time for nobel cause, I would like to ask you that my wife 42 years old having intial stage diabetic and little over weight and she frequently feel heaviness in her left side, and does not perform any excersice what her mama expired due to heart attack in 2009, pl suggest what precaution she should do

Anil Bansal: get a treadmill test, lipid profile and see a good cardiologist

pravin jain: Myself Pravin from Mumbai & age is 34 Years. Always my family doctor told that due to heavy work I am in stress so my BP is heavy around 150-80.Slight panning at left side above the chest. Pls advice for best diet and to control the BP at average level.

Anil Bansal: start taking b.p medications, stress does not cause b.p to rise it is genetic, of course if u can lose weight etc ur pressure will come down

MURALI MOHAN: I under went cardiology test previous and my cholestrol level is at border something around 160. At present I am under storvas, stanlip, zyloric, homocheck. any alternative to control chloestrol without medicine

Anil Bansal: None

AKHILESH KUMAR: What foods are needed to increase good cholestrol?

Anil Bansal: decrease of carbohydrates and aerobics exercise are the only ways to increase HDL

koushlandre singh: sir im am k Singh and went through angioplasty with medicated stent in RCA last year in the month of sep but after one month it is failed and now my RCA is 100% blocked as told by the doctor on second angiography. please tell are there any chance of opening this by another method and How

Anil Bansal: yes, go to a very competent cardiologist

AUM: Does therapy like reiki,pranic healing,meditation,yoga improve heart conditions & thus prevent heart attacks ?

Anil Bansal: no scientific evidence in this regard

Akash Ray: Hi Sir, . This is Akash here, I had a angiogram last year , but nothing found , but still I have the pain lower to chest , what would be the root cause

Anil Bansal: non cardiac cause, see adoctor

pulipaka Srijyothi: how to precent genetical disorders of heart atta

Anil Bansal: u r born with it cannot prevent, improve ur karma for ur next life, if born as a human

Uday: I am 49 yrs old my HDL level iis 35 while my LDL and Tris are in optimal level>How to increase HDL without medication.

Anil Bansal: see previous reply

Sujit Mohanty: I had a angiplast 2 yrs ago and ny arteries were 100% free. Still I feel pain somewhere near to my heart.Please suggest, what to do.

Anil Bansal: non cardiac cause, overall good prognosis

pulipaka Srijyothi: my mother s age is 60 4 years back she has undergone for angeogram test result is minor cholestral what precautions she has to takePlease advise me

Anil Bansal: control cholesterol, exercise

Deepak: only one question - - How to Prevent-Heart-Attack ? pls ans

Anil Bansal: MAINTAIN A bmi of less than23, no smoking, check bad cholesterol if high take medicines, avoid diabetes, exercise 1 mile in 10 minutes

haresh nikam: I had angioplasty last year in Feb 12. Sometimes I feel pinching pain in heart area. Is this okey.

Anil Bansal: yes it is okay

Rajendra Mulmule: i experiencing pain in chest , back , hands which last for few secong. Also i have done strss test where reports were negative. Still i should go for futher test or my heart is ok

Anil Bansal: yes get an angiography done as TMT can be false negative

Sameer sameer: DR.Why are the chances of getting heart attack more in male compare to female and what precaution should we take to avoid them.

Anil Bansal: in women till menopause the hormones are cardioprotective, they decrease bad cholesterol, after menopause there is a catch up phenomenon but still they get heart disease a decade later on an average, unless they smoke or have diabetes

Sujit Mohanty: SMSujit MohantyI had a angioplasty 2 yrs ago and there were absolutely no blockage. Still I feel pain around my heart.I do have problem of severe heart burn.Should I see a cardiologist

Anil Bansal: Gastroenterologist

Tarunpreet: Hello Sir, Which Oil is better Canola or Rice

Anil Bansal: usually we use to say canola because of high MUFA, but lately a better MUFA/PUFA RATIO IS GAINING GROUND, HOWEVER THIS OIL THING IS ONLY RELEVANT IF U ARE HAVING IT UNHEATED, ONCE HEATED ALL GOOD PROPERTY DISSAPEARS

anand kulkarni: where to go for anger managemet?my recent stress test was negative , lipid profile is good WNL.

Anil Bansal: PSYCHIATRIST

Sameer sameer: Dr.Pl suggest food useful for heart, and which oil is good, and also food should be avoided.

Anil Bansal: UNCOOKED FOOD FOUND IN NATURE, VEGETABLES, FRUITS-TO BE HAD RAW, NO SATURATED FATS, NO HALWAI, NO MAIDA-PROTEINS LIKE EGG WHITES COLD WATER FISH LIKE SALMON, EAT LESS TO MAINTAIN BMI 0F 23 OFR LESS

anand kulkarni: i often get irritated and extremely short tempered. I llos my cool very ofetn and shout when angry. this often bring discomfort in abdomen and my upper body eches for more than 2-3 days. Does this lead to cardiovascular problem in furure . I am 56 and work high pressure environment .Kulkarni

Anil Bansal: u need to go for anger management, which is very useful, yes this behaviour if associated with blockages can cause heart attacks

Anshul-Kumar: Hi! Doc! I m male 34, had heaviness, pain in chest left side, with breathlessness, sweating n fatigue, all test ECG, ECHO, TMT came normal other than lipid profile, Started with cholestrol med, but still I m too tired, my pulse is also always above 100, having difficulty in standing much and even climbing stairs, this pain comes and goes in between. what ur opinion?

Anil Bansal: GET AN ANGIOGRAM DONE

Sanjit-Srivastav: Sir, I am male 42 yrs, having sometime feeling mild pain in left side, what should I do.

Anil Bansal: SEE A CARDIOLOGIST

ishan trivedi: What are the symptoms of PVD?

Anil Bansal: PAIN IN THE CALVES ON WALKING

Michael Andrews: My Name is M.Andrews, I am taking a Tablet for BP, and i go for Morning walk for 40 Minutes covering 4 Km, I want to know which ALcohol is good for Health wHISK OR bRANDY , hOW MANY PEGS , AND FOR HOW MANY DAYS PER WEEK ONE SHOULD CONSU\ME MY aGE IS 52, HIEGHT 5.11 In, weight 90 Kgs

Anil Bansal: U R SEVERELY OVERWEIGHT, NO ALCOHOL IS NOT GOOD FOR HEALTH DO NOT TOUCH ALCOHOL AS IT HAS VERY HIGH CALORIES AND IT RAISES BLOOD PRESSURE FURTHER, TAKE MEDICINES AND CONCENTRATE ON EATING LESS AND LESS

saumen ghosh: Hi Doc.Wanted to ask 2 things :1. Am in a travellng profession,hence get little time for exercise; Can at max do treadmill for 35 mins/day for 2 days a week at brish pace(6.6-6.9). Is it OK ? If no, do suggest min. requirement.2. Is body massage beneficial to good cardio? If yes,how often one should have it done and any specifc massage?

Anil Bansal: DO 10 MINS ON TREADMILL AT 10/KM AN HOUR-DAILY, IF U CAN DO THIS THEN U R IN GOOD CARDIOVASCULAR SHAPE

MASSAGE HAS NO HAERT BENEFITS

Indranil: It is said that we should do regular checkup to prevent heart attack....what are those check-up, doc?

Anil Bansal: LIPID PROFILE, SUGAR AND BLOOD PRESSURE

Aravamuthan Raghavan: 4 yrs ago I had a pacemaker and stent in LAD installed.Recently I stopped aspirin for 5 days for a tooth extraction and suffered discomfort at the solar plexus,which did not respond to antacid/sorbitrate.It was relieved after 8 hrs,after taking aspirin.Discharge diagnosis is unstable Angina /gastric pain.What should I[73 yrs,male] do?

Anil Bansal: GET A TMT

Jeswal: How often do you suggest I should check my blood sugar? I just turned 41

Anil Bansal: YEARLY

Pradeep Choudhury: Does High TGD will lead to heart attack

Anil Bansal: INCREASES THE CHANCES

subbarao jaladi: hello Dr.Sir, as mentioned, iam a veggie and reduced oil content too. how long this shld happen?

Anil Bansal: LIFE LONG