Angina & Coronary Artery Disease Specialist, Dorset

Coronary artery disease develops when fatty deposits build up in the arteries that supply the heart, narrowing them and limiting blood flow. The classic symptom is angina — a tightness, heaviness or pressure in the chest, sometimes spreading to the arm, neck or jaw — typically brought on by exertion or stress and eased by rest. Some people instead notice breathlessness or unusual fatigue.

An assessment is important if you have chest discomfort on exertion, breathlessness that is new or worsening, or risk factors such as high blood pressure, raised cholesterol, diabetes, smoking or a strong family history of heart disease. Getting checked promptly is especially important if symptoms are new, changing or coming on more easily than before.

Dr Khambekar assesses the whole picture — your symptoms, your risk factors and, where needed, detailed imaging — so that the diagnosis is accurate and the plan is tailored to you.

Your appointment begins with a careful history of your symptoms and risk factors, an examination, blood-pressure measurement and a resting ECG. Blood tests for cholesterol and related markers are usually arranged, as controlling these is central to treatment.

Depending on the findings, further investigation may include an echocardiogram to assess the heart muscle and valves, exercise or stress testing, or advanced imaging. Cardiac MRI, which Dr Khambekar performs and reports herself, can give a detailed assessment of the heart muscle and blood supply where a clearer answer is needed.

You will then receive a clear explanation of whether your symptoms are coming from the heart, how significant any narrowing is, and what to do about it. Management focuses on relieving symptoms and reducing future risk — through lifestyle measures, medication and, where appropriate, onward referral for procedures such as angiography or stenting.

Assessment of angina and coronary artery disease, with the supporting tests, is available at Nuffield Health Bournemouth Hospital, The Harbour Hospital in Poole, and the Dorset Heart Clinic. Where a procedure such as coronary angiography is needed, it can be arranged through the appropriate specialist pathway.