Frequently Asked Questions.

Coronary angiography is a procedure that uses X-ray imaging and contrast dye to visualise the inside of your coronary arteries. A thin catheter is inserted through a small puncture in the wrist (radial access) and guided to the heart. It is the gold standard for diagnosing coronary artery disease and takes approximately 15–20 minutes.

No. A 2D echo is a completely painless, non-invasive ultrasound of the heart. A small probe is placed on your chest to capture images of the heart's chambers, valves, and pumping function. It takes about 15–20 minutes and requires no preparation.

Typically 24 hours, though 48-hour and 7-day monitors are sometimes used depending on the symptoms. The device is small and portable — you can continue your normal activities while wearing it. It continuously records your heart rhythm to detect irregular heartbeats.

A treadmill test, or exercise stress test, involves walking on a treadmill at increasing speeds and inclines while your heart is monitored via ECG. It helps detect coronary artery disease, assess exercise capacity, and evaluate symptoms like chest pain or breathlessness during exertion.

ABPM is a 24-hour blood pressure recording using a portable cuff that inflates at regular intervals throughout the day and night. It provides a comprehensive picture of your blood pressure pattern and is more accurate than a single clinic reading.

No. Angioplasty is minimally invasive — performed through a small puncture in the wrist or groin, without opening the chest. A balloon-tipped catheter is used to widen blocked arteries, and a stent is placed to keep them open. Most patients go home within 24–48 hours.

Angioplasty (PCI) is a catheter-based procedure that opens blocked arteries using stents. Bypass surgery (CABG) involves open-heart surgery to create new pathways around blocked arteries using grafts. The choice depends on the number and location of blockages, heart function, and other medical conditions.

TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement) is a minimally invasive procedure to replace a diseased aortic valve without open-heart surgery. A new valve is delivered through a catheter, usually via the femoral artery. It is especially beneficial for patients at high surgical risk.

A pacemaker is a small device implanted under the skin below the collarbone that sends electrical impulses to maintain a regular heart rhythm. It is needed when the heart beats too slowly (bradycardia) or has conduction blocks, causing symptoms like dizziness, fainting, or fatigue.

Heart failure means the heart cannot pump blood efficiently enough to meet the body's needs. It doesn't mean the heart has stopped. Common symptoms include breathlessness, fatigue, and fluid retention. With proper medication (GDMT) and lifestyle changes, many patients lead active lives.

GDMT stands for Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy — the evidence-based combination of medications proven to improve outcomes in heart failure. This typically includes beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors/ARNIs, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and SGLT2 inhibitors, titrated to optimal doses.

In some cases, yes. Heart failure caused by certain conditions (e.g., tachycardia-mediated, alcohol-related, or peripartum cardiomyopathy) can significantly improve with treatment. Even in other cases, proper GDMT can improve ejection fraction and quality of life substantially.