An investigation by Consumer Reports recently raised the concern that patients with stable or no significant symptoms for heart disease are being made to go through invasive tests and treatments unnecessarily. Given that heart disease is still America’s No. 1 killer, it is easy to imagine how patients can easily be convinced to undergo these tests even if all the facts aren’t exactly in yet....
Read more …An investigation by Consumer Reports recently raised the concern that patients with stable or no significant symptoms for heart disease are being made to go through invasive tests and treatments unnecessarily. Given that heart disease is still America’s No. 1 killer, it is easy to imagine how patients can easily be convinced to undergo these tests even if all the facts aren’t exactly in yet.
For example, the Consumer Report found that instead of prescribing a change in diet and exercise habits as well as medication to patients that have symptoms of worsening chest pain or shortness of breath, doctors were more likely to recommend an angioplasty. Angioplasty is an invasive procedure that is used to identify and clear blockages in the coronary arteries. It is usually not necessary for non-emergency cases.
