When you think of someone with a heart condition or someone who has had a heart attack, what do you think of in regards to their treatment? I think of open heart surgery, of a chest cavity cut and splayed open, of gloved hands massaging a faintly beating heart, of doctors fighting against time to repair the damage before the patient flatlines and then finally sewing the chest back up, leaving a huge railroad track like scar as a ongoing reminder of what has been survived. I’ve seen it a million times on TV, and if, like me, you rely on the likes of Grey’s Anatomy and ER reruns for your medical schooling, then you may be surprised to learn that in the world of cardiovascular medicine, surgery is considered old school.
Known as the “silent killer,” heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. In the twenty seconds it took you to read this far, one person in the U.S. has had a heart attack. And each and every ensuing twenty seconds claims another heart attack victim.
So, how do you ensure that you do not fall victim to heart disease? Meet Dr. Sanjiv Goel, an expert Interventional Cardiologist. Born, raised and educated at the most prestigious schools in India, Dr. Goel completed his medical fellowships in Canada and was eventually sought after by the top medical teams in the United States. Over the past 18 years, based in the Los Robles Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, Dr. Goel has emerged as an expert in non-surgical alternatives for cardio vascular disease. Dr. Goel takes a holistic approach to your heart health. In other words, Dr. Goel is as interested in preventing heart disease as he is in treating it.
Surgery is Old School
“My job is to keep patients away from surgery,” Dr. Goel explains as I look around his impressive office facilities. Treadmills, ultrasounds, articles on the wall, and other equipment – it begins to sink in that there has been a huge paradigm shift in cardiac care, a fundamental change in the approach and the underlying assumptions on how to treat cardiovascular disease, and Dr. Goel is at the forefront of this shift. By constantly challenging methods and utilizing the newest technologies available, Dr. Goel took it upon himself to lead the way in coronary and carotid stents procedures, which are non-surgical procedures. “Medicine is about pushing the envelope, bringing your best effort and helping the patient with the best technology available.” Helping people live longer and survive what used to be a probably death sentence is the most gratifying part of his job. “This branch of medicine is developing so fast.” And with passionate experts such as Dr. Goel, the future for cardiac patients looks bright indeed.
East Meets West
What sets Dr. Goel apart in this field is the artistic and expert manner in which he blends Eastern and Western principles to care for his patients’ cardiovascular needs. “Both are a blessing,” he states in describing his Eastern and Western backgrounds. On a case by case basis, Dr. Goel works with each individual patient to create a plan for their particular cardiovascular needs and situation. This plan may incorporate the Western principles of medications and procedural solutions such as: angiogram, carotid stenting, or clot extraction, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, or, Digoxin as well as the Eastern principles of natural remedies such as daily meditation, yoga, herbs such as garlic, fish oil and flaxseed, regular aerobic exercise as well training with weights and eating a proper diet.
By combining both, Dr. Goel strives to empower the patient to help themselves while still under his medical care and guidance. “Society has set us up to fail,” he tells me when we discuss how our hectic lifestyles play a roll in heart disease. Dr. Goel believes that changing our stressful lifestyles could have a big impact on our heart health. Given that heart disease may be attributed to roughly 50% genetics and 50% environmental factors, it would behoove us to do everything possible to alleviate stress, to live an active lifestyle, and to eat right.
A Thing of The Past
“Heart disease will hopefully become, in the majority of patients, a thing of the past. The preventative aspect of treating heart disease will eventually be the most powerful and predominant treatment.” The progress toward this is dramatic as evidenced in the decreasing numbers of people who die from heart disease and the increasing number of people who, in just the past 10 years, have survived heart attacks.
“In this day and age, people from all walks of life, of all ages are seeking out less high risk solutions and turning to more natural therapies for healing. Alternatives do exist.”
Prevention – You Know Your Body
There are known symptoms that are indicators. Unlike the commercials you see on television which when I watch them I realize I suffer from everything from depression to fibromyalgia to erectile dysfunction, these symptoms are specific, and are often combined. Again, it goes back to being aware of your body. You’ve been living in it for a long time, you know what is normal and what isn’t. And while each person’s “normal” will vary slightly, be aware if you experience: chest pain (which is often confused with heartburn), dizziness, fatigue, a cough, high blood pressure, palpitations, shortness of breath, swelling, or cyanosis, which is a bluish coloration of the skin and mucous membranes?. If these occur, see your doctor right away.
The Human Element
Utilizing both Eastern and Western philosophies brings the human element to the forefront of his profession. “Healing from a heart attack or any heart disease is very emotional. There can be anxiety, pain, fear. I approach each patient as a personal relationship, and communicate an understanding of their situation in a one on one environment. I mend one heart at a time.”