Cholesterol: Understanding the Good, the Bad, and the Truth Cholesterol is often portrayed as a villain when it comes to health, but the reality is far more nuanced. It’s neither inherently good nor bad; it’s an essential repair agent in our body. Let’s explore what cholesterol really does, how it impacts your health, and what you need to know to keep your heart healthy. Cholesterol: The Body’s Repair Agent Cholesterol is a natural substance produced by the liver, playing a crucial role in repairing damages within the body. When blood vessels or tissues suffer damage, cholesterol is dispatched to aid in their repair. However, the process involves two main types of cholesterol, often misunderstood as "good" or "bad." Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL): LDL carries cholesterol from the liver to damaged sites in the body, such as injured blood vessels. While this is a necessary function, an excess of LDL can lead to blockages in the arteries over time. High-Density Lipoprot...

  Is Your Heart Rate a Red Flag? Here's What You Need to Know Have you ever noticed your heart racing for no apparent reason? While it’s normal for your heart rate to fluctuate during physical activity or emotional stress, an unusually high heart rate at rest could signal an underlying issue. Let’s explore why this happens, what it means for your health, and how you can take better care of your heart. What’s Normal for Your Heart? For a healthy adult, a resting heart rate typically ranges between 60 and 100 beats per minute (BPM) . When your heart rate is above 100 BPM at rest, it’s known as tachycardia , which might occur due to a range of factors. While temporary spikes can result from stress or excitement, consistent high heart rates could indicate something more serious. Why Does Your Heart Race? A high heart rate can result from: Anxiety or Stress: Feeling anxious triggers adrenaline, making your heart pump faster. Fever or Dehydration: When your body is fighting an infecti...

A Holistic Approach to Heart Health: Why Madhavbaug Focuses on Preventive and Non-Surgical Care In my journey as a healthcare provider, I've been driven by a simple yet profound mission: to bring effective, preventive, and non-surgical treatments to patients battling heart disease. Through Madhavbaug, we've embraced a holistic approach to healthcare that blends modern medical science with advanced Ayurvedic principles, a combination that has empowered thousands to reclaim their heart health without invasive surgeries. The Madhavbaug Mission: Prevention Over Cure At Madhavbaug, we view health as an ongoing commitment rather than a quick fix. We believe that real wellness is about building sustainable habits and making informed lifestyle choices. Heart disease, diabetes, hypertension—these conditions are preventable with the right guidance and proactive steps. By focusing on a preventive model, we help patients gain control over their health before these issues become life-threat...

Managing Heart Health in Today's Fast-Paced World: My Insights In recent years, we've seen a sharp rise in cases of stroke and heart disease affecting individuals who appear outwardly healthy and fit. One such incident that has garnered attention is the recent stroke suffered by a well-known Indian entrepreneur. This brings up an essential conversation about heart health, lifestyle, and underlying risks that may be invisible to even the most health-conscious among us. Understanding the Hidden Risks: The Role of Blood Clots Heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events often stem from a seemingly simple cause: the formation of blood clots. Even in healthy individuals, these clots can form and move to various parts of the body, disrupting blood flow. When they block vessels in the brain, a stroke can occur, as we saw in this recent case. If they reach the heart, a heart attack may result. This points us toward a critical aspect of heart health: the condition of our endo...

Empowering Your Heart Health: My Guide to Managing Blood Pressure Naturally Hello, I’m Dr. Rohit Sane, and over the years, I've been dedicated to helping people reclaim their heart health through the power of Ayurvedic principles combined with practical lifestyle changes. Heart health is more than just managing numbers; it’s about understanding the body’s rhythms and needs. Today, I want to share insights on managing high blood pressure naturally, tapping into the wisdom of Ayurveda and modern health practices. Understanding the Root Causes of High Blood Pressure High blood pressure, or hypertension, doesn’t just happen. It’s often tied to factors like excess weight, thickened blood, and metabolic challenges, such as diabetes or high cholesterol. Many assume that hypertension only affects those with higher body weight. But even slim individuals can struggle with high blood pressure, usually due to thicker blood consistency from issues like diabetes, thyroid imbalances, or high chol...

The Subtle Threats to Heart Health and How to Guard Against Them In today’s fast-paced world, we often equate health with outward fitness. A toned physique and a regular workout regimen seem to check all the boxes. However, recent cases of highly fit individuals suffering from sudden cardiovascular events remind us that heart health is far more complex and requires a deeper understanding. Let’s dive into what we can do to prevent such risks, exploring the often overlooked but essential factors that can keep our hearts safe and strong. Understanding Endothelial Health: The Body’s Silent Shield The endothelium is the thin inner lining of our blood vessels, working tirelessly to keep blood flow smooth and prevent clots. This protective layer, though largely unrecognized, plays a pivotal role in reducing risks for heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular conditions. Unfortunately, chronic stress, poor dietary habits, and inadequate sleep can weaken the endothelium over time, increa...

Women’s Health and Heart Wellness: A Guide to Prioritizing Self-Care Women's health has traditionally focused on caring for family, often at the expense of their own well-being. However, the rise in lifestyle-related heart issues among women calls for a shift in approach. I want to emphasize the necessity of self-care, especially as we celebrate Women’s Day—a day to recognize women as the foundation of both families and communities. Understanding the Rise in Heart Disease Among Women In my experience and analysis over the past two decades, there has been a marked increase in heart disease among women. Unlike earlier years, when heart issues were predominantly seen in men, recent trends reveal an alarming rise in heart problems among women. Changing lifestyles, increased stress, and a rise in habits like smoking and poor dietary choices contribute significantly to this shift. Women today often juggle multiple responsibilities, leading to higher stress levels, which increases their r...

Heart Failure: Understanding, Managing, and Preventing It for a Healthier Life Heart failure is a term that often stirs concern among patients, particularly when it comes to understanding heart health metrics, like pumping capacity. As a cardiologist, I often encounter questions about what heart failure truly means and how it differs from other heart conditions, such as heart attacks. This article aims to demystify heart failure, clarify important distinctions, and provide insights into how lifestyle changes can help both manage and prevent this condition. What Is Heart Failure and Pumping Capacity? In simple terms, heart failure refers to a weakened heart that cannot effectively pump blood to meet the body's needs. A common metric here is the “ejection fraction” or pumping capacity, which measures the percentage of blood pumped out with each beat. A healthy ejection fraction typically falls between 50-65%, meaning that while it doesn’t expel all the blood, it maintains a sufficien...

Understanding the Types of Angina: Stable vs. Unstable Hello, doctors! Today, we’ll discuss an essential topic in cardiology—understanding the two main types of angina, Stable Angina and Unstable Angina . Patients often come to us with chest pain, and through investigations, we determine whether it’s angina or another type of chest discomfort. Once we’ve established that it’s indeed angina, it becomes crucial to identify the type. Knowing the difference between stable and unstable angina helps us manage the condition more effectively and guide patients toward the appropriate interventions. What is Angina? Angina is chest pain resulting from reduced blood flow to the heart muscle (myocardium), leading to a condition known as ischemia. Unlike general chest pain, angina is specifically associated with an insufficient blood supply to the heart, which may be indicated by symptoms and diagnostic tests like an ECG or stress test. Types of Angina Angina can be broadly classified into two main...

Understanding Angina: Not Just Any Chest Pain Today, let’s explore an essential topic in heart health: angina. Angina is a term often misunderstood or misused, even though it has a precise medical meaning distinct from the usual chest pain people might experience. Here, Dr. Rohit Sane walks us through the fundamental definition of angina, how it differs from other types of chest discomfort, and why an accurate diagnosis matters. What Exactly is Angina? Angina isn’t just any chest pain; it’s specifically the discomfort arising when the heart muscle, or myocardium, doesn’t receive enough blood supply. This inadequate blood flow, medically known as ischemia, means that oxygen isn’t reaching the heart muscle cells as needed. When the heart muscle doesn’t get enough oxygen, it sends out a pain signal—this is what we recognize as angina. Imagine the coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart as vital highways. If these arteries are blocked or narrowed, blood cannot flow freely to the hea...

Cholesterol: Enemy or Friend? Busting the Myths Hello, I’m Dr. Rohit Sane, and today, I want to dive into a topic that stirs up a lot of concern and confusion: cholesterol. Many people view cholesterol as a dangerous enemy to heart health, but the truth is a bit more nuanced. Cholesterol is essential for our body, and it's only when certain factors come into play that it can become problematic. Let’s explore what cholesterol is, why we need it, and the common myths surrounding it. Cholesterol: A Vital Component of Life Let’s start with a fundamental fact: cholesterol is not inherently bad. In fact, cholesterol is crucial for our survival. Every cell in our body contains cholesterol, and it plays a key role in cell structure, hormone production, and healing processes. When there’s any damage in the body, cholesterol is mobilized to help repair tissues. Our liver produces cholesterol naturally every day because it’s essential – if cholesterol were truly harmful, our bodies wouldn’t r...

How Do Heart Blockages Form? A Simple Guide to Understanding Their Causes and Prevention Introduction When patients receive an angiography report showing blockages, they often ask: How did these blockages form in my heart? Dr. Rohit Madhav Sane, a long-time cardiology expert, shares valuable insights into the causes of blockages, explaining how they develop over time in the body. By understanding these causes, we can also discover ways to prevent and reverse them. Where Blockages Occur and Why the Heart Is Often the Last to Be Affected Blood vessels, or arteries, run throughout the body, carrying oxygen-rich blood to every organ. Blockages don’t form only in the heart’s arteries; they can happen in any artery in the body. However, when blockages affect the heart’s arteries, they become especially dangerous because they impact blood flow to the heart muscle itself. According to Dr. Sane, heart arteries are often the last place where blockages appear. This is because the body prioritize...

Understanding and Managing Hypertension: My Insights and Approach Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is often misunderstood as merely a "number" to control. Over the years, I’ve seen how casually it’s approached, despite its severe implications on health. People tend to rely solely on medication, unaware of the broader lifestyle adjustments that can make a meaningful difference. Today, I want to share my perspective on managing hypertension more holistically and effectively. Hypertension: More Than Just a Blood Pressure Reading The first thing to understand is that hypertension is not only about elevated numbers. It reflects a growing resistance in our blood vessels, which forces the heart to work harder. Over time, this persistent strain damages not just the heart but also the kidneys, eyes, brain, and virtually every organ that relies on a steady, healthy blood supply. In India, nearly 23% of people are hypertensive, and that’s just among those who know about it. Many ot...

Should You Undergo Angioplasty for Heart Blockages? My Insights from the COURAGE Trial Hello, I’m Dr. Rohit Madhav Sane, and I am the founder of the Madhavbaug Ayurvedic Cardiac Rehabilitation Centers. Today, I’d like to address a crucial question for those who have undergone angiography and been diagnosed with heart blockages. After such a diagnosis, there’s often intense pressure to immediately decide whether to go through with angioplasty, a decision that can be both daunting and confusing. It’s a question many patients ask: Should I undergo angioplasty or stick with medication? The answer isn’t as straightforward as it might seem, and it’s important to understand the findings of a major study, the COURAGE trial, to make an informed decision. The Pressure to Choose Angioplasty The moment blockages appear on an angiogram, patients and families face immense pressure. They fear that without angioplasty, the patient is at immediate risk of heart attack or even death. This fear-based dec...

Is Calcium in Heart Blockages a Risk? Understanding Calcium Build-up and How to Reverse It When patients undergo an angiography and see calcium in their heart blockages, fear often sets in. Questions arise: "Is this calcium in my blockage making things worse? Can this calcium be removed from my arteries?" Let's break it down simply and answer these questions to clear the confusion about calcium in heart blockages and whether it can be reversed. What Is Calcium in a Heart Blockage? To understand calcium in a heart blockage, we need to first understand how blockages form. Our blood vessels have an inner lining, called the endothelium, that acts as a barrier to protect the arteries. However, over time, due to factors like stress, unhealthy diet, and lack of exercise, damage can occur to this protective layer. When the endothelium is damaged, fat and other substances such as cholesterol begin to accumulate inside the artery walls, forming what we know as blockages. Initially,...