Health Bites — Expert Conversations
Preventing Heart Attacks Before They Happen
Dr Ash Kapoor in conversation with Dr Michael Hickman, Heart Specialist
About This Episode
A heart attack can feel like it comes out of nowhere. It almost never does.
Heart disease usually builds up quietly, over twenty or thirty years, without any pain or warning you would notice. In this episode, Dr Ash Kapoor sits down with heart specialist Dr Michael Hickman to explain, in plain language, how the early signs can now be seen long before symptoms appear.
This Episode Asks
- 1.Why do so many heart attacks arrive “without warning” — and were there really no warnings at all?
- 2.What can a simple blood pressure reading tell you that you cannot feel?
- 3.Why is a standard cholesterol test only part of the story?
- 4.What is a calcium score scan, and what does it actually show?
- 5.If a check finds something early, what happens next?
In Short
This is an episode about options. Finding out early does not just deliver news; it gives you time to act, usually with simple changes rather than dramatic ones.
A Note on Evidence
Some of the checks discussed are a routine part of medical care. Others are newer, and the science behind them is still growing. The conversation is clear about which is which.
A Note on Safety
This episode is for general education and does not replace advice from your own doctor. If you ever have chest pain or sudden breathlessness, seek urgent medical help straight away.
The Silent Years
How heart disease builds while you feel completely well
The checks discussed in this episode look inside the silent years — when there is still plenty of time to act.
Three Numbers Worth Knowing
The episode keeps returning to three simple measurements. None of them requires anything more than a cuff, a blood sample, or a short scan.
Blood Pressure
The force of blood pushing through your vessels. High pressure quietly strains the heart for years. It is the easiest number to check and one of the most important.
Cholesterol, In Detail
A standard test gives headline figures. Newer blood tests look closer at the particles that actually carry cholesterol into artery walls, giving a fuller picture for many people.
Calcium Score
A short scan that shows whether the arteries around your heart have started to harden. It turns an invisible risk into something you can actually see and track.
What You Will Take Away
- Heart disease builds silently for decades, so feeling well is not the same as being well.
- A standard cholesterol test is a starting point, not the full story; more detailed blood tests can help complete the picture.
- A calcium score scan can show whether hardening has already begun, replacing guesswork with a real measurement.
- The basics still matter most: blood pressure, sleep, movement, and not smoking. No scan replaces them.
- The right checks depend on your personal history, especially your family history, so a conversation with a doctor beats a fixed rule about age.
About the Guest
Dr Michael Hickman
Consultant Cardiologist
Dr Michael Hickman is a heart specialist with a particular interest in finding and treating heart disease early, before it causes harm. In this conversation he explains modern heart checks in everyday terms and offers a clear, honest view of what they can and cannot tell us. [Replace with verified biography and credentials before publishing.]
Transcript
Read the full transcript
Dr Ash Kapoor: [Transcript begins here...]
Dr Michael Hickman: [...]
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a heart attack really be spotted before it happens?
Often, yes. Heart disease usually builds up slowly and silently over many years. Simple checks such as a blood pressure reading, a blood test, and in some cases a special heart scan can pick up warning signs long before you feel anything is wrong. Checks cannot promise anything, but finding a problem early gives you many more options.
What checks are talked about in this episode?
Three main ones: blood pressure, blood tests that look at cholesterol in more detail than a standard test, and a heart scan called a calcium score that shows whether the arteries around the heart have started to harden. Your own doctor can advise which, if any, are right for you.
At what age should I think about heart checks?
There is no single age that suits everyone. What matters more is your own picture: whether heart problems run in your family, whether you smoke, and what your blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol look like. The episode explains why a conversation with a doctor about your personal risk is more useful than waiting for a birthday.
Is this episode a substitute for medical advice?
No. This episode is for general education only. If you have chest pain, breathlessness, or any symptom that worries you, please seek urgent medical care straight away rather than waiting for a check-up.
Continue Exploring
Know Your Numbers Before They Become Symptoms
If this conversation has raised questions about your own heart health, our clinical team can help you understand which checks make sense for you.
Book a Consultation
