A heart patient may not need angiography, angioplasty or bypass surgery. Treatment may be as simple as following dietary and lifestyle changes.

These views were expressed by Dr Bimal Chhajer, well-known cardiologist from Delhi, formerly associated with All India Institute of Medical Sciences, during a news meet in Patna on Monday.

“Heart diseases, which kill about 50,000 people in the country every year, have been on the rise for the past many years. Complications begin when the heart does not get enough oxygen carried in the blood. If the oxygen deprivation is brief, chest pain occurs. If prolonged beyond a few minutes, the result is a heart attack,” said Dr Chhajer, who is known as pioneer of non-invasive cardiology in the country.

He added: “In 90-95 per cent cases, angioplasty and bypass surgeries are absolutely unnecessary but the doctors insist on them for their own monetary benefits. Most of these cases can be reversed through lifestyle changes. A cardiologist knows that unless the blockage increases, the patient won’t have a heart attack. And he can advise the patient to take care. Instead, he insists on a bypass or angioplasty, which is unfortunate.”

The doctor was of the view that that there are many causes of heart diseases and tackling just one of them is not the solution.

“Stress, hypertension, excess fat, high cholesterol level, smoking, alcohol intake, obesity, diabetes, blood pressure and use of oral contraceptives (especially women who smoke) result in blockages in the heart tubes. The process continues for years, till the blockage in the tube reaches 80 per cent. That’s when heart diseases are diagnosed,” said Dr Chhajer.

The veteran cardiologist also insisted that making dietary changes is very important. He strongly advocated zero-oil cooking and inclusion of at least 35 minutes of simple exercises like brisk walki-ng in everyone’s daily routine.

Research studies prove that diets high in fat and cholesterol push blood cholesterol levels and blood pressure up. Low-fat, low-cholesterol diets, on the other hand, bring down blood cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Also, yoga and meditation help in reversing heart ailments.

“Those who are in the advanced stage of heart diseases should immediately make lifestyle changes and strictly follow allopathic instructions,” said Dr Chhajer.

The cardiologist will hold awareness camps in Bhagalpur and Muzaffarpur in the coming seven days.