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A heartwarming tale of grit and glory

Imagine a young and healthy man in his early 20s aspiring to serve in the Indian Air Force being turned down due to a hitherto unknown heart murmur picked up during his medical evaluation! He was devastated, his dream was shattered and he was left to deal with a diagnosis of a congenital heart valve disease. The only silver lining was that it was not a life-threatening condition and he just needed to stay on a regular follow-up.       

The next two decades saw this determined and gritty guy grow both professionally and personally into an admirable and well accomplished entrepreneur, business executive and a loving husband and father. While busy with life’s multiple roles, he remained consistent in his fitness endeavours, trained relentlessly, and went on to participate in eight consecutive annual marathons!

Despite an angioplasty to address his coronary blocks in his mid 50s and an open heart surgery to replace his diseased heart valve in the subsequent year, his passion for holistic health and wellbeing endured! We at Cardiac Wellness Institute have had the privilege to work closely with him for the past three months, guiding him in his personalised cardiac rehab program and learning several life lessons from him along the way.

In fact, he is currently on a high intensity interval training (HIIT) regimen along with strength training and balance exercises and is making excellent progress. We are confident he will be back on the tracks for this year’s race and next year’s half marathon with our team of rehab professionals cheering him loudly and applauding his commitment to live life to the fullest.

Let us hear from our real-life hero himself on the ups and downs of his life and some insights into how he coped with the unexpected hurdles and eventually converted them into stepping stones.

Q. How did you feel when you first got to know about your cardiac condition?

A. I was in a state of denial as it was identified in the Air Force Physical examination. I believed that the whole thing was an error as I was physically active and played cricket in both my school and college years, and therefore, wasn’t mentally prepared to accept this news.

Q. When many of us get bogged down by an unexpected diagnosis, what motivated you to participate in long-distance running?

A. As I was in a state of denial, I wanted to prove to myself that I am in good health. I am someone who prefers to push myself by engaging in physical activities like climbing temples atop hills without a break, playing badminton, and doing yoga, all of which make me feel fresh. In fact, in June 2023, two months prior to having an angioplasty, I completed 108 Suryanamaskarams in a stretch.

Q. What are your hobbies? Is there something that you wish to learn afresh?

A. I enjoy engaging in physically challenging hobbies. I enjoy playing sports like badminton and cricket, and go by the motto “Whenever possible, walk; wherever possible walk”. Learning music is something I’ve always wanted to do.

Q. As a busy business consultant and investor, how do you find the time for your passions?

A. Whenever you want to do something new, you have to create time for it. For instance, when I decided to incorporate yoga and workouts in my daily routine, I set aside time to do it by waking up an hour early.

Q. Could you describe what your biggest hurdles were while recovering from your recent open heart surgery and how you have overcome them?

A. I was confused about what I should be doing to help my recovery. Once I enrolled in the Cardiac Rehabilitation program at Cardiac Wellness Institute, they helped me in a personalised manner with a systematic and scientific approach.

Q. What aspects of your Cardiac Rehabilitation program have you enjoyed the most?

A. I enjoy doing strength training and core exercises, and approaching it with confidence. Likewise, my doubts were addressed, giving me peace of mind.

I would like to add here that my cardiac rehab team comprising of Dr. Priya Chockalingam, Ms. Agalya and Ms. Rupini, is friendly. They pay close attention to details, show interest, and ensure that patients are doing things right. It is gentle and makes me feel good.

I am also glad that the cardiac rehab program is evidence-based, cost-effective and has good value for money and it is the best way to prevent future health complications and hospitalisations. I have completed 12 sessions in Phase 1 of my cardiac rehab program and am now enrolled in Phase 2.

Q . What is your health and fitness goal for 2025, 2026, and beyond?

A. In the years ahead, my goal is to continue participating in International Yoga Day, run a 10 km marathon, or maybe even a half marathon. I would also love to resume playing cricket and badminton, as well as continue climbing those hilltop temples.

Q When you are stressed out or anxious, what coping strategies do you use?

A. I have been meditating for the past 10 years, and I use meditation as a coping strategy.

Q. As a technology expert, what do you think is the future of health tech?

A. My vision for the future in health technology is personalisation of healthcare, early detection of risk factors, prevention of disease, and evidence-based rehab and recovery.

Q. Can you share your most treasured life event with our readers?

A. Every moment is a treasured moment, that is how I approach life.

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Bypass Surgery versus Angioplasty

If you have been faced with the question “bypass or angioplasty”, either for a loved one or for yourself, you are not alone. This is the commonest dilemma people encounter when diagnosed with a myocardial infarction or heart attack. Both are revascularisation techniques, that is, methods to allow blood flow to the heart muscle when there are one or more critical blocks in the blood vessels supplying the heart. However, there are significant differences between the two treatment modalities.

Important facts

While the healthcare team caring for you at the time of the heart attack usually decides on the best management modality based on your medical parameters, it is important for you as the receiver of the treatment to have a clear understanding of what a bypass means, what an angioplasty means, and what to expect in the long term.

To begin with, coronary artery bypass graft or CABG is an open-heart surgery wherein the blocked coronary blood vessels are circumvented or bypassed using healthy vessels from other parts of your body such as your legs or chest area. This alternate route or bypass then supplies the much-needed blood to the heart muscle. Minimally invasive cardiac surgery or MICS is a newer treatment modality in which instead of opening up the chest to access the heart the surgeon performs the bypass surgery through small key-holes in the chest wall using thoracoscopy device. The recovery time is lesser for MICS approach than the conventional approach but only certain patients are eligible for this type of surgery.

Angioplasty, on the other hand, is a non-surgical procedure in which the coronaries are accessed via the peripheral arteries, that is, arteries in our hands and legs. The access points are either the groin or the wrist. A stent is a thin device that is inserted into the artery in our groin or wrist that goes all the way to the heart and to the blocked part of the coronary artery and stays there to allow blood to flow through it. This is an interventional procedure and not a surgery, therefore there are very few complications and the recovery is faster but again it is not suitable for all patients.

Of late, hybrid coronary revascularization is also being performed where minimally invasive coronary bypass surgery and angioplasty with stenting are performed in the same patient when multiple blocks are present.

The major criteria taken into consideration when choosing the revascularisation procedure are:

  • Number of blocks
  • Severity of blocks
  • Location of blocks
  • Known diabetic or not
  • Other comorbidities like kidney failure, chronic lung disease etc.

Better outcomes

The team of doctors treating you will make the decision about what is the best management for you after considering all the relevant factors. Coronary revascularization is a life-saving procedure and whether bypass or angioplasty is chosen, it is important to adhere to the medications prescribed and to follow a cardiac rehabilitation program for better outcomes. Modifying the risk factors, attending the follow-ups regularly and leading a heart-healthy lifestyle are the best ways to prevent occurrence of complications and repeated hospitalizations.

Pandemic restrictions

Due to the ongoing pandemic, there is a doubt in people’s mind about whether it is safe to see the doctor and to get investigated or if should be postponed.

IF YOU THINK IT IS AN EMERGENCY DO NOT DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL HELP.

Tele-consultation is a safe alternative for non-emergency medical conditions but if you suspect a heart attack, stroke or other medical and surgical emergencies, you should report to the casualty at the earliest, taking all COVID-19 precautions.