While medical research continually expands the treatment options that doctors can offer heart disease patients, the adoption of new techniques is not universal. Studies show a wide variation in the tests and treatments that heart patients receive, depending on where they live and who their doctors are.
We’ve compiled a list of Five Crucial Questions to Ask Your Cardiologist about New Heart Disease Treatments to help you make sure you get the best care. Here are a few highlights of the topics on that list, which you might not know about yet:
A catheterization technique called the Radial Approach has been developed that is less uncomfortable for patients, and has lower complication rates, than more traditional methods. Although this approach is used in the majority of catheterization procedures in Europe, India, China, and Japan, it’s currently only being used by 10-15% of the cardiologists in the U.S. Does your doctor use it?
CT Angiography is a high-tech, painless, non-invasive diagnostic imaging test that can rule out heart disease, sparing hundreds of thousands of patients the risk and discomfort of unnecessary invasive testing. CTA is not widely offered and not widely reimbursed yet, but many patients feel it’s worth seeking out. Have you and your doctor considered whether it makes sense for you?
Are you a patient who wants to make sure you are being offered the most current, least invasive tests and treatment choices? Find out for yourself about the latest options, so you’re prepared to weigh the pros and cons with your doctor, by reading our full list of Five Crucial Questions to Ask Your Cardiologist about New Heart Disease Treatments.
I was looking to know more about what information a patient could receive from their cardiologist. It is good to know that there is a catheterization technique that is less uncomfortable for patients and has lower complication rates. Something to consider would be to find a local cardiologist to facilitate check up visits and save you time.