Heart Surgery Anyone?
Choosing the right treatment for your heart problem is not so easy when each doctor you consult is likely to have a different opinion. Which treatment is best? It’s a question that even the most prominent doctor can’t answer.
How do you know what is the best treatment for blocked arteries? Different doctors use different approaches to the same problem. If you go for a second and a third opinion you might get three totally different answers.
One doctor may want to do angioplasty with drug-eluting stents, a procedure that opens vessels with miniature balloons and props the vessels open with tiny mesh wires that slowly release heart medicine. Another might advise medications, diet and exercise. While another might advise coronary bypass surgery.
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Americans have an average of 500,000 bypass surgeries and more than a million angioplasty procedures every year, totaling more than $100 billion in medical costs. The worry is that the decision of one treatment over the other is based more on medical bias and patients misconceptions than on sound science.
Bypass surgery, angioplasty and noninvasive treatment’s each come with their own fans. And one group of fans often do not communicate with the others. Meanwhile patients assume the surgery or treatment their doctor advises will help them live longer healthier lives, even though numerous studies have failed to show this is true.
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Before you have an angiogram, there are facts you need to know. If only one or two arteries are blocked, which is true of most people, The American Heart Association advises, that angioplasty is probably not necessary. Changing your diet, exercising, and reducing stress, while taking the right medication have proven effective for many.
If all three coronary arteries are blocked on the left main artery you will want to have angioplasty with stenting or a bypass graft. A New England Journal of Medicine study compared the two treatments and found no difference in the mortality rate or heart attach after one year.
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Before you decide be sure your cardiac surgeons and cardiologist talk to each other. Miscommunication between these two important groups can impede the ability of each group. Whatever you decide be sure to take your medication and follow your doctors instructions. Many people think after they have these procedures they don’t have to take their medication. Nothing could be further from the truth. Medication, diet, and exercise will continue to be your mainstay.
Angioplasty and coronary bypass may relieve symptoms of angina but chances are niether will extend your life. Only medication and a healthy life style will do that.
Liked it
Betty Carew | Mar 26, 2009 | Reply
Excellent information Ruby , I didn’t realize there were so many people affected by this. Great read.
Daisy Peasblossom | Mar 26, 2009 | Reply
It all comes back to those basic essentials, doesn’t it? Diet, exercise, and communication. This article doesn’t pull any punches.
clay hurtubise | Mar 26, 2009 | Reply
Latest studies show that medication is as effective as a stent in a majority of cases. That said, the newest stents in development right now are truly ‘new and improved’.
Thanks,
Clay
Joe Dorish | Mar 26, 2009 | Reply
Good points. People who have heart problems have to change lifestyle or they are not solving their problem.
Uma Shankari | Mar 26, 2009 | Reply
It is indeed difficult when doctors offer differing opinions. In India, doctors don’t even care to educate the patients or family members; they consider them to be illiterates. In fact, they look on with scorn anybody who questions them.
Excellent article; useful info.
Kate Smedley | Mar 26, 2009 | Reply
It’s frightening to see how many people are affected by heart disease, you are right, we all have to do what we can to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Excellent advice.
Christine Ramsay | Mar 26, 2009 | Reply
This is a very interesting article, as there is a lot of heart disease in my family. You have provided me with a good deal of useful information. I need to act on an exercise and diet for health regime. Good work.
Christine
OhSugar | Mar 26, 2009 | Reply
This is vital information for those that are facing such a life-threating surgery. You hear about surgerical diasters all the time, because of the lack of communication. So, I applaude you for your excellent article. Thank you, again.
jazzd | Mar 26, 2009 | Reply
Good job Ruby. It is an alarming static. Many people get this procedure you do not dervserve while others do. It is expensive and a drain on the health system. No Smoking and good nutrion can solve this. I am so glad that you what what real comedy thanks for the good feedback.
Glynis Smy | Mar 26, 2009 | Reply
Interesting article.
Jo Oliver | Mar 26, 2009 | Reply
AS always, you have provided A+ info here and clearing a lot of misconceptions.
Karen Gross | Mar 26, 2009 | Reply
Scary how doctors can disagree about diagnosis and treatment. We tend to believe that they always know what is best.
C A Johnson | Mar 26, 2009 | Reply
You did a great job with this article, Ruby. It will be very helpful for people who are suffering from heart problems.
QuinMonty86 | Mar 26, 2009 | Reply
As a retired RN I agree with you 100%. Communication, communication, communication! Take notes, ask questions, have a medication list, and take someone else with you are also good suggestions. But like you said, compliance with taking your meds is the most important thing you can do.
Excellent article.
Poetic Enigma | Mar 26, 2009 | Reply
Very informative article,
A very great read, and good to know!
Living4Jesus | Mar 26, 2009 | Reply
This is a very good and helpful article. Thanks for sharing.
JK Kristie | Mar 26, 2009 | Reply
Very insightful. Thanks for the info.
Elizabeth Abbott | Mar 26, 2009 | Reply
This is a good article Ruby! Having a heart condition is nothing to play with. You a so very right. Thank you once again for such an enlighting script! E
valli | Mar 26, 2009 | Reply
Recently my father had undergone a heart surgery. Very helpful points.
CHAN LEE PENG | Mar 26, 2009 | Reply
This is an excellent article. You’ve outlined it in a well-described format.
Eunice Tan | Mar 26, 2009 | Reply
To decide to have a surgery is a hard decision. Nice article that we must read.
Phill Senters | Mar 26, 2009 | Reply
Having had all the treatments you described, I can say that you have given the best information and advice. Wish i had found something like this before going through that.
CutestPrincess | Mar 27, 2009 | Reply
oh no, it’s a bit scary!
PR Mace | Mar 27, 2009 | Reply
Another good well researched article, Ruby. This one is right up my alley, I am an open heart nurse. The biggest problem I see after surgery is patients not following a good diet and excerise plan. The one artery you really have to be careful with is the RCA or right cornary artery. We call this one the widow maker. If it is blocked have it fixed or you die. You can’t mess around with that one. Another fact with stents is that you will have to take a blood thinner after placement. These medications come with an entire different set of risks.
Unofre Pili | Mar 28, 2009 | Reply
An enlightening piece maam. Thank you.
Alexa Gates | Mar 28, 2009 | Reply
good info
Ruby Hawk | Mar 29, 2009 | Reply
Thank you everyone, Heart disease is nothing to mess around with. We really should follow the doctors instructions if we have the surgery or not.My better half had stents a few years ago and later had a mitral valve replaced. He is doing well and needless he is careful to follow his doctors orders.
Pam,thanks for your suggestions, as an open heart nurse you know what you are talking about. We will have to remember the right coronary.
Mythili Kannan | Apr 2, 2009 | Reply
Nice information Ruby. 5 years back my dad had the heart surgery.