Dr. Sarita Rao Best Cardiologist

  Background Severe hypertension in young patients presents a significant diagnostic dilemma, and treatment can often be codified. Therefore, it is crucial to diagnose these cases for probable secondary hypertension. Common causes of secondary hypertension include large vessel vasculitis, renal artery stenosis, coarctation of the aorta, and endocrine disorders. Case summary A 23-year-old Asian male, who was previously in good health, presented with symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath on exertion grade II, and generalized weakness. On examination, his blood pressure was markedly elevated at 200/110 mmHg. Diagnostic investigations revealed significant vascular involvement, including bilateral renal artery stenosis accompanied by aneurysm formation, celiac trunk disease, and osteal stenosis of the superior mesenteric artery. The patient underwent successful interventional procedure, including renal angioplasty, stenting, and aneurysm coiling. This was followed by tailoring of ...

  Heart Problems Are No Longer Only an Older Person’s Concern — young adults can have a heart attack. Many people in their 20s, 30s, and early 40s believe chest pain, breathlessness, sweating, or sudden fatigue is due to stress, acidity, anxiety, or lack of sleep. This delay can be dangerous because a heart attack needs urgent medical attention. A heart attack happens when blood flow to the heart muscle becomes blocked. Without quick treatment, the affected part of the heart may get damaged. Young adults often ignore early symptoms because they feel “too young” for serious heart disease. That belief is one of the biggest risks. Today’s lifestyle has changed heart health. Long working hours, poor sleep, smoking, vaping, alcohol, high stress, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, unhealthy food habits, and lack of exercise can all increase cardiac risk. Family history also matters. A young person with a parent or sibling who had early heart disease should be more alert. The warni...

 The cardiovascular continuum is the developmental process of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) leading to heart failure (HF) and sudden cardiac death. Beta-blockers (BBs) are at the forefront of managing conditions along this continuum, ranging from cardiovascular (CV) risk factors to heart failure. In particular, bisoprolol proved to be a highly cardio-selective BB with a favourable pharmacokinetic profile, demonstrating long-term safety, good tolerability, and proven efficacy in reducing cardiac events, including arrhythmias and mortality in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). This evidence-based and perspective showcased numerous clinical studies revealing the utility of bisoprolol in managing patients with CVDs, particularly HFrEF and stable angina. It also included safety evidence for bisoprolol in patients with renal and hepatic dysfunction, etc. Expert opinions from leading cardiologists across India further reinforce the role of bisoprolol as a...

  Objectives The color and physical appearance of pills influence people’s expectations of their effectiveness, alongside their actual medicinal purpose. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate how pill color influences medication adherence. Materials and Methods This questionnaire-based survey was conducted among Indian patients visiting cardiologists with cardiovascular diseases. Patients were asked to fill out a form that included 9 questions designed to assess the impact of pill color on drug adherence. In addition, demographic characteristics of the patients were collected. Results A total of 901 patients were included in the study. Approximately 91% of the 876 patients reported that they were taking medications that needed to be taken daily. When taking multiple pills, 29.4% of patients remember the medication by the pill color, 28.4% remember by the strip color, and 28.0% remember by the brand name. The proportion of patients aged >50 years who reported that simila...

  Background Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is frequently observed in the ageing population, affecting 90% of men and 67% of women, and poses significant challenges during percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). CAC impedes stent passage, compromises drug delivery, and limits stent expansion, contributing to decreased PCI efficacy and heightened risks of complications such as restenosis, thrombosis, and procedural issues. Aims The study aims to evaluate the real‐world clinical outcomes of orbital atherectomy (OA) in patients with severe CAC undergoing PCI. Methods This retrospective study analyzed 20 patients (14 males and 6 females) who underwent OA at a single center. OA employed a 1.25 mm diamond‐coated burr at 80,000 and 120,00 rpm in selected cases. Baseline characteristics, lesion specifics, and procedural outcomes, as well as changes in minimal lumen diameter (MLD), minimal lumen area (MLA), and minimal stent area (MSA), were assessed along with procedural complicat...

  Hypertension (HTN) is a major global public health challenge and disproportionately affects women, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as India. Despite its high burden and contribution to cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality, HTN in women remains underdiagnosed, undertreated, and underrepresented in existing guidelines. Biological factors including hormonal fluctuations across life stages from menarche and pregnancy to menopause and older age interact with sociocultural barriers such as limited healthcare access, financial dependence, and gender norms, creating unique challenges for women. This multispecialty consensus statement, developed through collaboration among experts in cardiology, endocrinology, nephrology, obstetrics, gynecology, internal medicine, and primary care, provides a comprehensive framework for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of HTN in Indian women. The document emphasizes sex-specific risk factors, life-course blood pressur...

  Dyslipidemia is a major, yet under-recognized, driver of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in Indian women. This expert consensus provides India-specific guidance on early detection, risk stratification, and management of lipid disorders across the female life course. Seventy-five specialists from cardiology, endocrinology, lipidology, obstetrics–gynecology, and primary care participated in a modified Delphi process with three structured rounds. An agreement threshold of ≥80% was maintained to develop statements based on 20 key clinical questions and a comprehensive review of international and Indian evidence. The consensus emphasizes early and repeated lipid screening. All women should have at least one lipid profile between ages 20 and 39 years, with earlier and more frequent testing in those with a family history of premature ASCVD, suspected familial hypercholesterolemia, polycystic ovary syndrome, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, premature menopause, or auto...