Q Which oil is better – gingili, groundnut, sunflower, saffola, olive?

A. All oils are bad. The so-called best oil company has the largest marketing budget.

Q What is the routine check-up one should go through? Is there any specific test?

A. Routine blood test to ensure sugar, cholesterol is ok. Check BP, Treadmill test after an echo.

Q How different was it in treating Noor Fatima, the little kid from Pakistan?

A. It was extremely difficult because of the media attention. As far as the medical treatment is concerned, she was like any other child with a complex heart problem.

Q What are the first aid steps to be taken on a heart attack ?

A. Help the person into a sleeping position, put an Aspirin tablet under the tongue with a Sorbitrate tablet if available, and rush him to coronary care unit since the maximum casualty takes place within the first hour.

Q How do you differentiate between pain caused by a heart attack and that cause due to gastric trouble ?

A. Extremely difficult without ECG.

Q Can drinking less water lead to heart problems ?

A. No. However, drinking plenty of water in normal people helps preserve good health.

Q Is it true that diabetic women seem to have 3 to 7 times greater risk of developing heart diseases than non-diabetic women? Is it the same with high BP patients as well ?

A. Women are protected by the hormones till the age of 45. After that, their risk increases like men and in general, the result of treatment on heart patients who are women is slightly poorer than men.

Q What are some of the precautions during pregnancy to avoid heart problems in the new born ?

A. German measles, which causes congenital abnormalities in the babies. No smoking.

Q What is the main cause of a steep increase in heart problems amongst youngsters? I see people of about 30-40 years of age having heart attacks and serious heart problems.

A. Increased awareness has increased incidents. Also, sedentary lifestyles, smoking, junk food, lack of exercise in a country where people are genetically three times more vulnerable for heart attacks than Europeans and Americans.

Q What is the right time to check the BP in any person?

A. Past the age of 30 and earlier, if you have symptoms.

Q Is it possible for a person for a person to have BP outside the normal range of 120/80 and yet to be perfectly healthy ?

A. Yes

Q Are there any symptoms for heart problems, which we need to be aware of ?

A. Shortness of breath on exertion, and chest pain.

Q If a person has had a heart attack, how frequently is regular heart check-up recommend?

A. Once in 6 months.

Q Marriages within close relatives can lead to heart problems for the child. Is it true?

A. Yes, co-sanguinity leads to congenital abnormalities and you may not have a software engineer as a child.

Q Many of us have an irregular daily routine and many a time we have to stay in office till late nights. Does this affect our heart? What precautions would you recommend?

A. When you are young, nature protects you against all these irregularities. However, as you grow older, respect the biological clock.

Q How can we find out about blockage of arteries, beforehand?

A. Routine cardiac evaluation by blood test, ECGs, TMTs, Stress Thallium Scan, Cardiac CT Scan for Calcium score.

Q Does a recurring pain in the left arm signify any heart related ailment?

A. Usually, you get chest discomfort or shortness of breath, months or years before the heart attack. So, when in doubt, go for a heart check-up, which should not take more than a couple of hours.

Q Will taking anti-hypertensive drugs cause some other complications (short/long term) ?

A. Yes, most drugs have some side effects. However, modern anti-hypertensive drugs are extremely safe.

Q Will consuming more coffee/tea lead to heart attacks?

A. No

Q What are the chances of lean people developing heart complications? Are they at less risk?

A. Obese people are at a higher risk. Lean people also develop heart attacks, but primarily because of genetic predisposition.

Q Is it true that after open-heart surgery, patients lose memory-recall to some extent?

A. No. Especially after bypass grafting on a beating heart, incidence of neurological problems have come down significantly.

Q Are Asthma patients more prone to heart disease?

A. No

Q How would you define junk food?

A. Fried food like Kentucky, McDonalds, Samosas, and even Masala Dosas.