Quick answer
See a cardiologist for chest pain on exertion, breathlessness that is worsening, palpitations, or after any heart event. Chest pain at rest, spreading to the arm or jaw, is an emergency. After a cardiac event, supervised exercise rehabilitation measurably improves outcomes and is one of the most evidence-backed things in rehabilitation.
Cardiologists deal with the heart and the blood vessels around it. What brings them into our world is what happens afterwards: cardiac rehabilitation is one of the best-evidenced interventions in the whole of rehabilitation, and one of the most under-used.
When to see one
- Chest pain or tightness, particularly on exertion
- Breathlessness that is new, or getting worse
- Palpitations, or an irregular pulse
- Swelling of the ankles alongside breathlessness
- After a heart attack, bypass surgery, angioplasty or valve surgery
- A strong family history of heart disease, for assessment
How physiotherapy fits
Chest pain at rest, spreading to the arm, neck or jaw, with sweating or nausea, is an emergency. Call an ambulance. Do not drive yourself and do not wait to see whether it passes.
Cardiac rehabilitation is supervised, progressive exercise after a heart event, combined with education and monitoring. It reduces the chance of another event and improves how much you can do — and most people who would benefit from it never get referred.
It has to be supervised and it has to be graded to you, which is precisely why it belongs with a physiotherapist working alongside a cardiologist rather than with a gym. Our cardiopulmonary team also handles recovery after chest infections and prolonged illness, where the limiting factor is breathing rather than the heart.
Where to see one
Our physiotherapy units run inside multi-speciality hospitals and nursing homes across West and South West Delhi — in Vikaspuri, Janakpuri, Uttam Nagar, Najafgarh and Dwarka — most of which run consultant clinics in this speciality. If you are already under our care, ask your therapist and we will tell you who holds a clinic at the centre you attend and how to get an appointment.
We are a physiotherapy and rehabilitation practice. We do not employ these consultants and we take no fee for pointing you at one; we work alongside them because most of our patients need both.
Need the physiotherapy side?
Book an assessment and we will tell you what rehabilitation can do, and whether you need a doctor first.
Book an assessment