Dr Sukhjinder Nijjer · Consultant Cardiologist · One Heart Clinic, 68 Harley Street
Patient Information &
Patient Information &
Frequently Asked Questions
Dr Nijjer provides evidence-based answers to the most important questions about your heart health to help you understand your condition, your investigations, and the choices available to you.
About Dr Nijjer
A cardiologist who takes the time to truly understand you
I became a cardiologist because I believe the relationship between a doctor and their patient is one of the most profound in medicine. When someone comes to me worried about their heart, often frightened, sometimes having waited weeks for answers, what they need is not just clinical competence, but someone who will listen carefully, explain clearly, and work with them as a partner in their care.
My practice is built on three foundations: rigorous diagnostic precision, so that nothing is missed; the very latest evidence-based treatments, informed by research I have been part of for over fifteen years; and compassionate, unhurried conversations, because an informed patient is always a better-treated patient.
I see patients across the full range of cardiac presentations from chest pain and breathlessness to palpitations and high blood pressure. I have specialist expertise in coronary intervention, coronary physiology and intravascular imaging. Whether your concern calls for straightforward reassurance or a complex decision about intervention, you will have my full attention and my clinical judgement honed over 20 years.
I trained at some of the UK's leading centres — Hammersmith, Charing Cross, St Mary's, the Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals. I continue to work as a Consultant Cardiologist at Hammersmith Hospital within Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. My PhD at Imperial College London, funded by the Medical Research Council, led directly to the co-development of iFR: a pressure-wire technology now used in tens of thousands of patients worldwide and written into international clinical guidelines.
Dr Sukhjinder Nijjer · BSc (Hons) · MB ChB (Hons) · PhD · FRCP
Consultant Cardiologist: One Heart Clinic · Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
GMC: 6103417
Dr Sukhjinder Nijjer, Consultant Cardiologist
One Heart Clinic, 68 Harley Street, London W1G 7HE
PhD, Imperial College London (MRC-funded) — co-developer of iFR coronary physiology technology
140+ peer-reviewed publications in leading international cardiology journals
Lead, Cardiac Catheter Laboratories, Hammersmith Hospital
Principal Investigator in multiple guideline-changing international clinical trials
Past President of Cardiology, Royal Society of Medicine
Recognised by Bupa, AXA PPP, Aviva, Vitality, Cigna, WPA and all major insurers
Medicine practised with precision and humanity
Three principles guide every consultation, every diagnosis, and every treatment decision I make.
Compassionate patient care
A cardiac diagnosis — or the fear of one — is one of the most stressful experiences a person can face. I never rush a consultation. I take time to understand what is worrying you, explain what I find in plain language, and ensure you leave with a clear picture of your situation and your options. Medicine, at its best, is a deeply human endeavour — and that is never forgotten in my consulting room.
Evidence-based medicine
I have spent over fifteen years not just applying the evidence in cardiology but helping to generate it. My research into coronary physiology — including the co-development of iFR — has directly informed international clinical guidelines. When I recommend a treatment, it is because the evidence supports it, and I have often studied that evidence first-hand. I can speak to the data behind a recommendation, not just the conclusion.
Patient partnership
I believe in shared decision-making. You know your body, your lifestyle, and what matters most to you. My role is to bring the clinical knowledge; together we decide the best path forward. Every patient receives a full written report sent electronically. I ensure you understand the choices available to you, the likely benefits, and the realistic risks — so that every decision is truly yours, and truly informed.
150+
Peer-reviewed publications
22+
Years of clinical experience
iFR
Co-developer of guideline-changing technology
4
London private hospital locations
Patient information resources
Browse all cardiac FAQ guides
Dr Nijjer answers the questions he is most commonly asked in clinic — covering symptoms, investigations, treatments and what to expect at consultation. Select a topic below.
Chest Pain
Understanding the causes of chest pain — from angina and heart attack to musculoskeletal and reflux — and when to seek urgent cardiac assessment.
Read answersPalpitations
Why you feel your heart racing, fluttering or skipping a beat — the common causes, when investigations are needed, and what treatments are available.
Read answersHigh Blood Pressure
What hypertension really means for your heart, how it is properly diagnosed and monitored, and the most effective lifestyle and medication strategies.
Read answersHeart Attack
Recognising the warning signs, understanding what happens during and after a heart attack, and what the recovery journey looks like with modern treatment.
Read answersCardiac Tests Explained
A plain-language guide to every major heart investigation — ECG, echocardiogram, CT angiogram, stress testing, pressure wire and invasive angiography.
Read answersStents & Angioplasty
How coronary angioplasty and stenting work, what the procedure involves, recovery expectations, and Dr Nijjer's specialist approach to complex coronary disease.
Read answersBreathlessness
The cardiac causes of shortness of breath — from heart failure and valve disease to coronary artery disease — and how each is investigated and treated.
Read answersCholesterol
Understanding LDL, HDL, triglycerides and Lp(a), interpreting your blood results, and the most effective strategies to lower your cardiovascular risk.
Read answersAtrial Fibrillation
What AFib is, why it raises stroke risk, modern anticoagulation and rhythm control options, and how treatment can meaningfully improve quality of life.
Read answersWhen to See a Cardiologist
Which symptoms, risk factors and test results warrant specialist cardiac review — and what to expect at your first consultation with Dr Nijjer at Harley Street.
Read answersWomen & Heart Disease
Why heart disease presents differently in women, the symptoms that are frequently overlooked, and the conditions — including microvascular angina — that disproportionately affect women.
Read answersLifestyle & Heart Health
The evidence on exercise, diet, sleep and stress in cardiovascular prevention — and how lifestyle choices interact with and amplify the benefit of medical treatment.
Read answers
My approach to care
Doing what the evidence says — and what works for you
I have always believed the best medicine sits at the intersection of the latest research and the individual patient in front of you. Guidelines tell us what works on average across a population. But my patient is not a population — they are a person, with their own circumstances, concerns and priorities.
That is why I take time to understand not just the test results but the whole picture: your lifestyle, your anxieties, what you have already read, and what outcome matters most to you. Only then can I give you advice that is both evidence-based and genuinely right for you specifically.
- Every consultation includes unhurried time for all your questions — no concern is too small
- Diagnoses explained in plain language, followed by a formal written report
- I integrate your lifestyle and preferences into our assessment and treatment plans
- My research background means I can discuss the evidence behind recommendations honestly and in depth
- Treatment decisions are always shared — I present options, not instructions
- The most technically complex procedures, when needed, are available: rotablation, shockwave, OCT, iFR-guided stenting
Consultation locations
One Heart Clinic, 68 Harley Street, London W1G 7HE
Cromwell Hospital, London
Syon Clinic, London
Bishops Wood Hospital, Hertfordshire
Insurance recognised
Bupa
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AXA PPP
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Aviva
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Vitality Health
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Cigna
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WPA
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Self-pay patients welcome
Ready to speak with Dr Nijjer?
Appointments are typically available within the same week at One Heart Clinic, 68 Harley Street.
No GP referral required. All major insurers accepted. Self-pay patients welcome.
Call: 0203 983 8001 · Email: jessica@oneheartclinic.com
These resources are written for general patient education and do not constitute personal medical advice. The information is based on current clinical evidence and Dr Nijjer's clinical experience, but is not a substitute for a consultation with a qualified physician. If you are concerned about any symptoms, please seek medical attention promptly. Content last updated . Dr Sukhjinder Nijjer, GMC 6103417.