A son living elsewhere hears the same answer during every call: “Tired today. How can families spot changes in heart health early? A daughter notices that her father no longer walks to buy milk. A spouse sees him pause halfway up the stairs. Each detail seems ordinary. Together, they reveal a life that has quietly become smaller.
Tavishi Dogra is a Deputy Chief Content Producer, Health & Wellness, at Hindustan Times. She joined Hindustan Times to simplify wellness subjects by cutting through jargon. She has over 9 years of experience writing about fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, translating medical research and expert insights into practical advice readers can trust. Career journey and experience Tavishi began her health journalism journey in 2017, and has since reported for RSTV, Financial Express, Jagran, HT Media Labs and Zee.
Education and professional background Tavishi holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and began her career reporting on public affairs for broadcast. Editorial Philosophy I write with one single goal: To simplify health in a world full of noise by finding what’s actually doable, safe, and evidence-based for my readers. I test claims against research and user experiences. Four valves guide blood through the heart. Trouble begins when one narrows or fails to close properly, making the heart work harder. Aortic stenosis, seen more often in later life, affects the valve at the heart’s main exit. “Its warning signs can resemble ageing. Breathlessness gets blamed on the weather” Dr Shafiq Mattummal, Chair, Senior Consultant in Cardiology, Calicut tells Health Shots . People attribute fatigue to a poor night’s sleep. Dizziness is dismissed as weakness. People gradually stop doing whatever brings on discomfort, so the symptom appears to recede. However, they may sometimes be associated with underlying heart valve disease . Families often hold the missing evidence. They remember when the morning walk shortened, temple visits became infrequent, or a favourite chair replaced time outdoors. When did the change begin? Which activity brings it on? Has the distance walked comfortably reduced? Have swollen ankles, faintness or a racing heartbeat appeared? Transcatheter aortic valve replacement, also called TAVR or TAVI, may suit some patients. A catheter guides the new valve to the heart, usually through a groin blood vessel. A specialist heart team decides whether it is appropriate after considering the person’s anatomy, overall health, life expectancy and preferences. Independence may mean making tea without assistance, returning to a weekly card game or managing the bathroom safely. These goals deserve a place beside test results. Before treatment, discuss questions about recovery, medicines, rehabilitation, valve durability, and possible future procedures. Homecoming can feel reassuring and confusing. A written plan should cover medicines, wound care, safe activity, follow-up dates, warning signs and emergency contacts. One relative might track appointments while another arranges transport. Too much protection can quietly replace one limitation with another. Resume movement gradually, as your doctor advises, allowing confidence and independence to return safely. Families can support attendance, medication routines, and prompt reporting of recurrent symptoms. Doctors and dentists should know about the implant, and the treating team should guide any preventive antibiotics. Sustainable support helps keep the relationship from becoming a list of tasks. Their knowledge of an ordinary day can reveal when something important has changed. These symptoms may be easy to dismiss as ageing, but persistent changes deserve attention. Speaking with a healthcare professional can help determine whether further evaluation is needed. That attentive presence may open the door to evaluation, support an informed TAVR decision and help protect the years that follow. (Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.)
When all else fails, I speak to the expert who sees 50 patients a day, not the one with the most followers. The 2025 European clinical guidelines recommend lifelong clinical and echocardiographic follow-up for people with prosthetic valves. For those over 55, asking a doctor whether to include an echocardiogram in a routine health check-up can be another step toward understanding a change that might otherwise be overlooked.
A change that seems part of getting older may therefore deserve a closer look, especially if it persists or starts to affect everyday activities. Because infection can affect an implanted valve, good dental hygiene also matters.
A vague comment such as “he seems slower” can become more helpful when tied to daily life. Those early years in policy and TV shaped how she writes today: fast, factual, and human-first.
Subject expertise With 9+ years tracking India’s health conversations, Tavishi knows the gap between clinical advice and daily life. She knows fads from fundamentals and curates science-backed, expert-recommended solutions. In fitness, she breaks down bodyweight training, recovery, and posture fixes for desk-bound readers. In nutrition, she translates guidelines into affordable, desi meal tweaks. In mental well-being, she focuses on stigma-free, actionable tools — all backed by research, expert input, and lived context.
From decoding health trends and interviewing doctors to testing fitness routines herself, Tavishi always approaches content with one filter: “Will this help someone make a better decision today?
