Heart disease is a serious health challenge, but it doesn’t have to be a life-defining one. Thanks to major advances in cardiac care, many people can now receive effective treatment and return to living active, fulfilling lives. Yet for many patients, the biggest hurdle isn’t the treatment itself; it’s the fear and anxiety that come with taking the first step.
Tavishi Dogra is a Deputy Chief Content Producer, Health & Wellness, at Hindustan Times. 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. 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. “The moments after a heart attack diagnosis are often filled with disbelief, anxiety, and questions. These conversations are as important as the procedure itself. Helping patients understand their condition and treatment options builds trust, encourages timely decisions, and leads to better outcomes,” Cardiologist Dr Ravinder Singh Rao, Vice Chairman, RHL Hospital, Jaipur, and Leelavati Hospital, Mumbai, tells Health Shots .
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. When all else fails, I speak to the expert who sees 50 patients a day, not the one with the most followers.
Once patients accept the diagnosis, they often ask whether angioplasty is necessary. Understanding what happens during a heart attack helps answer that question. The heart pumps about five liters of blood per minute, requiring a constant oxygen supply through the coronary arteries. When an artery is blocked, blood flow stops, depriving the heart muscle of oxygen and triggering a heart attack. Treatment aims to restore circulation quickly. Another concern is whether angioplasty is painful or a major surgery. In reality, it is minimally invasive. A small tube is guided to the heart, angiography identifies the blockage, and a stent restores blood flow. Conscious sedation ensures patients feel only mild local discomfort. In some cases, doctors use the groin artery instead.
“This sudden onset makes acceptance difficult, underscoring the importance of clear communication before discussing the treatment,” says the doctor. Most procedures today use the radial artery in the wrist.
