Never ignore chest pain; awareness, preventive care vital for heart health: Doctors

A healthy lifestyle, preventive care and prompt attention to symptoms are vital for heart health, cardiologists said at the Heart of Innovation Cardiac Summit organised by Manipal Hospital Dhakuria last month.

“Heart attacks can cause chest pain that is not always crushing. Never ignore chest pain, however mild, especially at night or if accompanied by sweating,” said Sumanta Chatterjee, consultant, interventional cardiology.

Timely hospitalisation is crucial during a heart attack, said Supratip Kundu, consultant interventional cardiologist. “You have to reach the hospital in time to get the blocked artery opened. Do not delay,” he said, advising patients experiencing chest
pain to rest, seek help and avoid driving themselves to hospital.

Kaushik Mukherjee, a cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon, said advances in minimally invasive cardiac surgery were improving recovery and reducing the physical impact of procedures in appropriately selected patients.

“The objective is not only to treat the disease effectively but also to help patients return to normal life sooner,” he
said.

The summit brought together patients who had undergone cardiac procedures at the hospital and recovered, highlighting the importance of timely intervention and preventive healthcare.

Ayanabh DebGupta, regional director of Manipal Hospitals East, said doctors and hospitals had a responsibility beyond treating illness. They must also help keep communities healthy by improving health-seeking behaviour, he said, adding that growing cardiac problems among younger people made awareness and prevention increasingly important.

Dilip Kumar Roy, hospital director of Manipal Hospital Dhakuria, said the summit aimed to put patients at the centre of discussions on heart health.