You’re playing basketball with friends after office and suddenly you feel a sharp pain in your chest. You rush to a hospital feeling its acidity or a normal heartburn but, remember you smoked 10 cigarettes the previous day. (What were you even thinking?) Within minutes doctors admit you and declare that you had a heart attack, maybe a minor MI.
You are in the middle of processing this while they let you in for an angiography and then suddenly announce that your heart has 90% blockage. An urgency/panic situation is created and you are given just 5 minutes to decide on stent/angioplasty. At that moment surgery seems the only option you have.
BUT WAIT!
There are other options also!
Alarming is the fact that heart attacks and cardiac arrest are claiming the lives of the youth who have no history of smoking, obesity, or diabetes. But why is this happening? Perhaps the bigger question is, how do you manage a 90% blockage if you get diagnosed with one? Heart disease is no longer seen as an “elderly problem”. It is a time bomb that has the potential to strike at the age of 30 or 40 on an individual. Startling studies have already shown that India shoulders the burden for an astounding 60% of the heart disease in the world, even though it has less than 20% of the total world population. Meantime, the CDC says that approximately 700,000 people die suffering from heart disease every year in the US alone. This makes it the most common disease to cause death in the US.
SAAOL Heartcare Delhi investigates the facts and answers, and Dr. Bimal Chhajer tells you about the advanced therapies that lie beyond stenting and bypass surgery so that you can better manage your heart health.
What Does “90% Heart Blockage” Really Mean?
Imagine your arteries as an internal road system responsible for delivering oxygen-rich blood to your heart. Over time, these arteries may get blocked with plaques, and let’s say that one of your arteries is 90% blocked, then blood flow to the heart is significantly restricted, which in turn starves the heart of oxygen.
How Risky Is It?
With 90% blockage, you are at extremely high risk of having a heart attack.
You may feel unwell occasionally, even in the absence of serious symptoms, but that should be warning enough. Noticing a decrease in blood flow can lead to an excess of physical exhaustion, angina or chest discomfort, lack of breath, and complete dizziness. As a result, the most compelling question at this very moment is what is the next suitable action to take?
Should You Be Scared? The Truth About Heart Blockages
Yes, a 90% blockage is severe, but it is not the end of the road. With the proper treatment, you can avoid a heart attack and possibly improve your health. But first, let’s confront the elephant in the room: What are your therapy options?
Traditional versus Modern Treatments for Heart Blockage
- The conventional route: stents and bypass surgery
To restore blood flow, doctors may immediately prescribe angioplasty or bypass surgery (CABG). Here’s what they include:
Angioplasty and stents: To open the artery, a small metal mesh tube is inserted.
An internal body part is removed and placed onto a bypassed artery. This procedure is known as bypass surgery.
While these procedures can be lifesaving, they miss the real issue – plaque formation continues if other lifestyle factors are not managed.
- EECP: A Non-invasive treatment for patients suffering from heart diseases.
If the thought of surgery gives you anxiety, there is an FDA-approved non-invasive alternative option for Bypass surgery called Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP). EECP is a safe, effective, and long-lasting solution for heart blockages.
EECP is a treatment in which cuffs are wrapped around your lower body (legs and thighs) and inflated in time with your heartbeat to increase blood circulation. It encourages the development of new blood arteries (natural bypass) to improve blood flow to the heart.
Why is EECP more effective than surgery for many patients?
These 6 points below state exactly why you should choose EECP treatment
- Non-surgical
- No hospitalization is necessary.
- No pain and no downtime during healing.
- Improves heart function, lowers angina, and increases exercise capacity.
- Stimulates natural bypass arteries for long-term advantages.
- A suitable alternative for those who are unable to undergo surgery
SAAOL has successfully treated over 6 lakh patients with EECP treatment in Delhi/NCR along with lifestyle management, detox therapy, diet management, and stress management. Among these lakhs of patients, many came to us with heart blockage as high as 100% and now, they are healthy, fit, and able to do all those things they wished to do once. In short, they are living their best life today. EECP can assist those with severe blockages to avoid invasive operations.
Why Do Young People Have More Heart Attacks?
Until now, heart disease has been mostly evident in those over the age of 60, although it is changing rapidly. Here’s why.
- Extreme Stress and Work Pressure
Chronic stress raises cortisol levels, causing inflammation and increasing the risk of heart disease.
- Sedentary Lifestyle and Poor Diet
Excessive screen time and a lack of physical activity contribute to obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Junk food, processed sweets, and high-sodium diets promote artery-clogging plaque formation.
- Hidden Heart Killers: Sleep Deprivation and Smoking
Poor sleep quality is associated with irregular heartbeats and elevated blood pressure. Even “social smoking” can result in irreparable arterial damage.
What Should You Do If You Have 90% Blockage?
Here’s how you can take charge of your heart health right now:
- Get a second opinion
Many people rush into surgery without first considering alternatives. Before making any decisions, consult with a cardiologist or Heart Specialist who is acquainted with EECP and lifestyle treatments.
- Begin EECP therapy (if recommended)
This non-invasive treatment can considerably enhance blood flow and cardiac function without requiring surgery.
- Follow a plant-based Zero-oil diet
Research indicates that plant-based diets help repair cardiac disease. Fill the platter with leafy greens, berries, millet, and whole grains. You can easily go for oil-free cooking if you follow SAAOL Delhi on YouTube.
- Exercise, but in the Right Way
Engaging in everyday brisk walking. Yoga and resistance training can improve circulation and cardiac health. If you have a high blockage, avoid doing strenuous workouts.
- Stress management and meditation
Heart disease affects more than just the physical body; it also has a significant impact on emotional and mental health. Deep breathing, meditation, and exercises can help reduce stress hormones in the body
- Track your blood markers regularly
Get regular blood tests to check your cholesterol, blood sugar, inflammation markers (CRP), and vitamin D levels. Prevention is better than cure!
Bottom line: Take charge of your heart health now
A 90% blockage may seem frightening, but it doesn’t mean you have to rush into surgery. With SAAOL Heartcare Delhi you can naturally prevent heart attacks and enhance heart function by using non-invasive treatments like EECP, making lifestyle adjustments, and seeking expert advice from Dr. Bimal Chhajer, a pioneer in non-invasive heart treatment in India.
Your heart deserves the best care—begin making life-saving decisions immediately.