You Felt It for a Moment \u2014 and Then Convinced Yourself It Was Nothing
\nIt came while you were rushing up the stairs at your office in Faridabad. Or perhaps it appeared in the quiet of the night, right before sleep \u2014 a strange, unfamiliar heaviness in the centre of your chest. It lasted maybe thirty seconds. Then it was gone. You sat still for a moment. And then you did what most people in India do: you took a deep breath, told yourself it was probably gas or stress or the mutton curry from lunch, and went on with your day.
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\nThat moment \u2014 the choosing-to-ignore moment \u2014 is the one that costs people their lives more than almost anything else in emergency medicine. Because the truth about chest pain is both simple and unsettling: it can be completely harmless, or it can be the opening scene of a heart attack. And far too often, it looks and feels almost identical in both cases.
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\nThis blog is not meant to make you anxious about every ache you feel. It is meant to give you honest, practical knowledge so that the next time your chest sends you a signal, you know what to do with it \u2014 and you do not dismiss the one that matters.
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\nWhat Does ‘Chest Pain’ Actually Mean?
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\nChest pain is not a single condition \u2014 it is a symptom. One symptom with dozens of possible causes, ranging from a strained muscle to a blocked coronary artery. That is what makes it so complex and so important to evaluate properly.
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\nThe chest is home to the heart, both lungs, the food pipe (oesophagus), major blood vessels, the ribcage and its muscles, and a network of nerves. Any one of these structures can generate pain, and from the outside, the sensations they produce can feel strikingly similar.
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\nThis overlap is what makes chest pain one of the most important symptoms a physician can evaluate \u2014 and one of the most dangerous for a patient to self-diagnose. The combination of location, character, timing, triggers, and associated symptoms is what separates a gastric spasm from a building infarct. And that assessment requires a trained eye, not a Google search.
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\nCommon Causes of Chest Pain \u2014 From the Harmless to the Dangerous
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\nUnderstanding the range of causes helps patients appreciate why chest pain should never be casually dismissed or casually catastrophised. Here is an honest overview:
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\nHeart-Related Causes \u2014 These Demand Urgent Attention:
\n\u2022\tAngina pectoris \u2014 a warning that the heart is not getting enough blood during exertion. Feels like tightness, pressure, or heaviness, typically triggered by physical activity or emotional stress and relieved by rest
\n\u2022\tAcute myocardial infarction (heart attack) \u2014 a blocked coronary artery cutting off blood supply to heart muscle. Crushing central chest pain, often with radiation to the left arm, jaw, or back. A medical emergency
\n\u2022\tUnstable angina \u2014 chest pain at rest or with minimal activity. A high-risk condition that often precedes a heart attack
\n\u2022\tPericarditis \u2014 inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart. Sharp chest pain that worsens when lying down and improves when leaning forward
\n\u2022\tAortic dissection \u2014 a rare but catastrophic tear in the wall of the aorta. Typically described as a sudden, tearing or ripping pain radiating to the back
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\nLung-Related Causes:
\n\u2022\tPulmonary embolism \u2014 a blood clot that has travelled to the lung arteries. Causes sudden sharp chest pain with breathlessness, and can be rapidly fatal if untreated
\n\u2022\tPneumonia or pleuritis \u2014 infection or inflammation of the lung lining. Pain that is sharp, often worsens with deep breathing or coughing
\n\u2022\tSpontaneous pneumothorax \u2014 a collapsed lung. Sudden severe chest pain and breathlessness, most commonly seen in tall, thin young men
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\nDigestive and Muscular Causes \u2014 Uncomfortable but Not Immediately Dangerous:
\n\u2022\tGastroesophageal reflux (GERD) \u2014 stomach acid entering the oesophagus. Burning sensation behind the breastbone, often after meals, worsens when lying down
\n\u2022\tOesophageal spasm \u2014 sudden severe cramping of the food pipe. Can feel alarmingly like a heart attack, including radiation to the arm
\n\u2022\tCostochondritis \u2014 inflammation of the cartilage connecting ribs to the breastbone. Very tender to the touch, worsens with deep breathing or pressing the chest
\n\u2022\tMuscle strain \u2014 from physical activity, heavy lifting, prolonged coughing, or even poor posture at a desk
\n\u2022\tAnxiety and panic attacks \u2014 can produce very convincing cardiac-like chest tightness, palpitations, breathlessness, and a sense of impending doom
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\nThe single most important point: you cannot tell which of these you have by the feeling alone. The only way to know is a proper evaluation.
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\nWarning Signs That Mean This Chest Pain Is an Emergency
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\nWhile all new or unusual chest pain deserves medical attention, certain features should make you act immediately \u2014 not tomorrow, not after finishing what you are doing. Right now.
\n\u2022\tChest pain that feels like a heavy weight, crushing pressure, or tight squeezing \u2014 especially in the centre or left side
\n\u2022\tPain that radiates to the left arm, jaw, neck, upper back, or shoulder \u2014 even if it is mild
\n\u2022\tChest discomfort accompanied by sudden cold sweating that seems out of proportion
\n\u2022\tBreathlessness that comes on with or immediately after chest discomfort
\n\u2022\tNausea or vomiting along with chest pain
\n\u2022\tChest pain that wakes you from sleep
\n\u2022\tA feeling of dread or doom \u2014 experienced by many patients during cardiac events
\n\u2022\tPalpitations or irregular heartbeat alongside chest heaviness
\n\u2022\tPain that gets worse with any physical activity and completely disappears with rest \u2014 the classic angina pattern
\n\u2022\tChest pain in a person with known diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol \u2014 even if the pain seems mild, these risk factors change everything
\n\u2022\tIn women especially: do not wait for the ‘classic’ crushing pain. Women often experience nausea, back pain, jaw ache, or simply extreme unexplained fatigue as the primary symptom of a cardiac event
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\nAny of the above should send you to a physician the same day \u2014 or to an emergency room if the pain is severe or ongoing.
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\nWhen to See a Physician \u2014 Be Honest With Yourself
\nThe rule of thumb that the best physician in Faridabad would give you is this: any chest pain that is new, unexplained, or recurring deserves a medical evaluation within 24 to 48 hours. Not next week. Not after the weekend.
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\nSee a physician without waiting if:
\n\u2022\tThis is the first time you have experienced this kind of chest discomfort
\n\u2022\tThe pain has come and gone more than once in the past few days or weeks
\n\u2022\tYou are above 40 with any cardiovascular risk factors \u2014 diabetes, hypertension, smoking, obesity, family history of heart disease
\n\u2022\tYou notice your stamina has decreased \u2014 activities that were easy now leave you breathless or uncomfortable
\n\u2022\tAntacids seem to help temporarily but the pain keeps returning \u2014 this pattern can be cardiac as well as gastric
\n\u2022\tThe pain occurred during or after physical exertion
\n\u2022\tYou are pregnant and develop any chest discomfort \u2014 pulmonary embolism risk is significantly elevated during pregnancy
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\nAnd let’s be direct: if the pain is severe, prolonged (more than 15 minutes), or accompanied by the serious warning signs listed above \u2014 do not drive yourself to a clinic. Call for emergency help.
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\nHow is Chest Pain Properly Evaluated?
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\nAt Dr. Kaushal Kumar Premlani’s clinic in Faridabad, a chest pain evaluation is structured, thorough, and takes nothing for granted. Here is what a careful assessment typically involves:
\nHistory and Clinical Assessment:
\n\u2022\tExact character of the pain \u2014 crushing vs sharp vs burning vs dull
\n\u2022\tLocation and radiation \u2014 where it starts, where it travels
\n\u2022\tDuration and pattern \u2014 constant vs intermittent, triggered by exertion vs meals vs rest
\n\u2022\tAssociated symptoms \u2014 sweating, breathlessness, nausea, palpitations
\n\u2022\tCardiac risk factor profile \u2014 diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol, smoking, family history
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\nInvestigations (chosen based on the clinical picture):
\n\u2022\t12-lead ECG \u2014 the most important immediate test. Detects heart rhythm abnormalities and patterns suggestive of ischaemia or infarction
\n\u2022\tCardiac biomarkers \u2014 Troponin I and T from a blood test. Elevated levels confirm heart muscle damage. The most definitive test for heart attack
\n\u2022\tChest X-ray \u2014 to evaluate heart size, lung fields, and rule out pneumonia, pneumothorax, or pleural effusion
\n\u2022\tEchocardiogram (Echo) \u2014 ultrasound of the heart. Assesses pumping function, valve health, and wall motion abnormalities
\n\u2022\tTreadmill Test (TMT \/ Stress Test) \u2014 induces controlled physical stress to unmask angina that may not show on a resting ECG
\n\u2022\tCT Coronary Angiography \u2014 non-invasive imaging of the coronary arteries for blockages
\n\u2022\tD-dimer and CT Pulmonary Angiography \u2014 if pulmonary embolism is suspected
\n\u2022\tHolter Monitor \u2014 24-48 hour continuous ECG recording if intermittent arrhythmia is the suspected cause
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\nNot every patient needs every test. The physician decides which investigations are appropriate based on the clinical picture \u2014 prioritising speed for high-risk presentations and thoroughness for lower-risk evaluations.
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\nTreatment Approaches \u2014 Matched to the Cause
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\nTreatment for chest pain is entirely dependent on the underlying cause. This is why diagnosis comes before treatment \u2014 always.
\nFor Cardiac Causes:
\n\u2022\tAngina: Nitrate medicines for acute relief, beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers for ongoing management, aspirin and statins for long-term vascular protection
\n\u2022\tHeart attack: Emergency reperfusion \u2014 either clot-dissolving drugs (thrombolytics) or primary angioplasty (PCI). Time is absolutely critical. Every 30 minutes of delay reduces survival
\n\u2022\tCoronary artery disease: Long-term medical management (statins, ACE inhibitors, antiplatelet therapy) with possible angioplasty or bypass surgery in severe cases
\nFor Non-Cardiac Causes:
\n\u2022\tGERD \/ acid reflux: Proton pump inhibitors, dietary changes, posture modifications after meals
\n\u2022\tCostochondritis: NSAIDs, rest, local heat, and reassurance \u2014 it typically resolves completely
\n\u2022\tPulmonary embolism: Immediate anticoagulation therapy and hospitalisation \u2014 treated urgently
\n\u2022\tAnxiety-related chest pain: Reassurance after cardiac causes are excluded, breathing techniques, and cognitive support \u2014 sometimes short-term medication
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\nLifestyle Changes That Protect the Heart for Everyone:
\n\u2022\tQuit smoking completely \u2014 the fastest way to reduce cardiovascular risk
\n\u2022\t30 minutes of brisk walking five days a week \u2014 lowers blood pressure, improves cholesterol, and strengthens the heart muscle
\n\u2022\tEat less saturated fat, processed food, and salt \u2014 more vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein
\n\u2022\tControl blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol \u2014 these three together drive most heart disease in Faridabad and across Haryana
\n\u2022\tManage stress with consistency \u2014 yoga, meditation, adequate sleep, and meaningful rest are not luxuries. They are cardiac medicine
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\nPreventing Cardiac Chest Pain Before It Happens
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\nThe vast majority of heart disease is preventable. And in a city like Faridabad, where desk jobs, long commutes, stress-heavy lifestyles, and North Indian diets rich in saturated fat are the norm, the foundation of prevention starts with honest awareness and consistent action.
\n\u2022\tKnow your numbers \u2014 blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, LDL cholesterol, and BMI. These four values tell your cardiovascular story
\n\u2022\tAnnual ECG from age 40 onwards \u2014 even without symptoms
\n\u2022\tIf you have diabetes or hypertension, treat them seriously and consistently \u2014 uncontrolled, they are the two biggest accelerators of heart disease
\n\u2022\tFamily history of early heart disease is a red flag \u2014 if a parent or sibling had a heart attack before age 55, your risk is significantly higher and deserves proactive screening
\n\u2022\tDo not ignore warning symptoms \u2014 anginal episodes, unexplained breathlessness, or fatigue with exertion should never be attributed to ‘age’ or ‘fitness’ without a proper evaluation first
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\nWhy Acting Early on Chest Pain Is the Single Most Important Decision You Can Make
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\nIn cardiology, there is a phrase: time is muscle. Every minute that passes during an active heart attack, thousands of cardiac muscle cells die permanently. Unlike many other cells in the body, heart muscle does not regenerate.
\nPatients who reach a hospital within the first 90 minutes of a heart attack and receive appropriate treatment have dramatically better outcomes \u2014 lower mortality, less permanent damage, better long-term heart function, and faster return to normal life. Patients who wait 6, 8, or 12 hours often sustain permanent damage that significantly impairs their quality of life for decades.
\n\u2022\tActing within the first 60\u201390 minutes of a heart attack can save up to 90% of the threatened heart muscle
\n\u2022\tUnstable angina treated early prevents the majority of heart attacks from ever completing
\n\u2022\tPulmonary embolism identified and treated promptly has excellent survival rates \u2014 untreated, it kills within hours
\n\u2022\tEven for non-cardiac causes, early diagnosis prevents weeks of unnecessary suffering and anxiety
\n\u2022\tKnowing your chest pain is NOT cardiac also has value \u2014 it gives you peace of mind and ensures the real cause gets treated promptly
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\nThe cost of a wrong assumption \u2014 ‘it’s nothing’ \u2014 is simply too high when it comes to chest pain. Please do not make that calculation.
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\nWhy Patients Across Faridabad Choose Dr. Kaushal Kumar Premlani for Chest Pain Evaluation
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\nWhen you walk into a clinic with chest pain, you need more than a machine to run an ECG. You need a physician who will take your symptoms seriously, ask the right questions, interpret the results in the context of your life and health history, and make the right call about what needs to happen next \u2014 quickly and confidently.
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\nDr. Kaushal Kumar Premlani, MD Physician (MBBS), brings exactly this combination of clinical skill and genuine patient care to his practice at 127, Sector 21C, Faridabad:
\n\u2022\tExperienced in evaluating and managing cardiac risk factors including hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidaemia \u2014 the drivers of most chest pain in Haryana
\n\u2022\tStructured, evidence-based chest pain assessment \u2014 from ECG and biomarkers to stress testing and Echo
\n\u2022\tClear communication \u2014 you leave understanding what was found, what it means, and exactly what to do
\n\u2022\tStrong referral network of cardiologists across Faridabad for timely specialist input when needed
\n\u2022\tPreventive focus \u2014 helping patients reduce their cardiac risk before it becomes a crisis
\n\u2022\tTrusted by thousands of patients and families across Faridabad, Ballabhgarh, Neharpar, and the broader Haryana region
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\nIf you have had chest pain \u2014 even once, even briefly \u2014 and have not had it properly evaluated, please see the best physician in Faridabad before another episode goes unexamined. Your heart is worth that one appointment.
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\nDo Not Ignore Your Chest \u2014 Book Your Appointment Today
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\nChest pain is not something to diagnose with an antacid and a good night’s sleep. It deserves a real evaluation by a physician who will take it seriously, investigate it properly, and tell you the honest truth about what is going on. That is exactly what Dr. Premlani does \u2014 every single day, for every patient who walks in.
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\nBook your consultation at Dr. Kaushal Kumar Premlani’s clinic in Faridabad, Haryana today. One appointment, complete clarity, and the right plan \u2014 whether this turns out to be the heart, the lungs, the food pipe, or the muscle.
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\nDr. Kaushal Kumar Premlani | MD Physician | Consultant Physician
\n\ud83d\udccd 127, Sector 21C, Faridabad, Haryana
\n\ud83d\udcde Call \/ WhatsApp: 8920171940
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\nOne appointment could be the most important health decision you make this year. Your chest has been patient with you long enough. Now it is your turn to return the favour.
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\nFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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\nQ1. How do I know if my chest pain is from the heart or from gas and acidity?
\nThis is the question almost every chest pain patient asks \u2014 and the honest answer is that you often cannot tell reliably on your own. Cardiac chest pain tends to feel like pressure, heaviness, or squeezing, is often triggered by exertion or stress, may radiate to the left arm or jaw, and can come with sweating or breathlessness. Acid-related pain tends to burn, is usually related to meals, worsens when lying down, and improves with antacids. However, these patterns frequently overlap \u2014 oesophageal spasm, for example, can feel identical to a heart attack and even temporarily improve with nitroglycerin. The only way to know for certain is a proper clinical evaluation with an ECG and blood tests. Please do not rely on the character of the pain alone to make this decision.
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\nQ2. Can anxiety really cause chest pain that feels like a heart attack?
\nYes \u2014 and this is far more common than most people realise. During a panic attack, the body releases a surge of adrenaline that causes chest tightness, racing heart, shortness of breath, tingling in the hands and face, and a profound sense of fear or doom \u2014 all of which can be indistinguishable from a cardiac event in the moment. Many people with anxiety-related chest pain end up in emergency rooms, which is absolutely the right decision to make until a cardiac cause has been ruled out. Anxiety is a valid diagnosis for chest pain, but only after the more dangerous causes have been excluded. Never assume it is anxiety without a proper check-up.
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\nQ3. I had chest pain once, it went away completely, and I feel fine now. Do I still need to see a doctor?
\nYes \u2014 especially if the pain was new, unusual, or felt like pressure or tightness, if it happened during or after physical activity, or if you have any cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, or a family history of heart disease. Chest pain that comes and goes is sometimes more concerning than pain that stays, because it can indicate angina \u2014 the heart demanding more blood than a partially blocked artery can supply during exertion, with relief at rest. This is a warning that deserves a stress test and a proper evaluation. Do not let the fact that it has gone away reassure you out of getting checked.
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\nQ4. What is the difference between a heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest?
\nA heart attack is a plumbing problem \u2014 a blockage in a coronary artery stops blood from reaching a portion of the heart muscle, which begins to die. The person is typically conscious, in pain, and aware something is seriously wrong. Sudden cardiac arrest is an electrical problem \u2014 the heart’s electrical system abruptly malfunctions, causing the heart to stop beating effectively. The person collapses and loses consciousness immediately, with no pulse. A heart attack can trigger cardiac arrest. A cardiac arrest requires CPR and defibrillation immediately \u2014 without intervention, death occurs within 4 to 6 minutes. Both are emergencies, but they require different immediate responses from bystanders and medical personnel.
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\nQ5. Are women’s heart attack symptoms really different from men’s?
\nYes \u2014 and this difference is critically underappreciated in India. While men typically experience the classic crushing central chest pain radiating to the left arm, women \u2014 particularly those under 65 \u2014 often have atypical presentations. These include unusual or severe fatigue that comes on suddenly, nausea, indigestion-like discomfort, jaw pain, upper back pain, and breathlessness, sometimes with very little or no chest pain at all. Because these symptoms are so easily attributed to stress, acidity, or hormonal changes, women’s cardiac events are frequently under-recognised and undertreated. If a woman has any new, unexplained combination of these symptoms \u2014 especially with known risk factors \u2014 it should be taken as seriously as a man presenting with classic chest pain.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
That tightness in your chest after climbing the stairs. The dull ache that appeared briefly while you were sitting at your desk. You told yourself it was gas, or stress, or the heavy lunch. But chest pain has many causes \u2014 some harmless, some life-threatening \u2014 and knowing the difference could save your life. Dr. Kaushal Kumar Premlani, trusted MD Physician in Faridabad, Haryana, explains exactly when chest pain deserves immediate medical attention.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":413,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[144],"tags":[150,151],"class_list":["post-4451","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-doctor-at-home","tag-chest-discomfort","tag-chest-pain-doctor-faridabad-heart-pain-causes-haryana-cardiac-risk-faridabad-consultant-physician-faridabad-chest-tightness-treatment-haryana"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/doctors.bajajfinservhealth.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4451","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/doctors.bajajfinservhealth.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/doctors.bajajfinservhealth.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doctors.bajajfinservhealth.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/413"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doctors.bajajfinservhealth.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4451"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/doctors.bajajfinservhealth.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4451\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4454,"href":"https:\/\/doctors.bajajfinservhealth.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4451\/revisions\/4454"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/doctors.bajajfinservhealth.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4451"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doctors.bajajfinservhealth.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4451"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doctors.bajajfinservhealth.in\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4451"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}