Posted: 12/31/08
When someone is having a heart attack or even chest pains, it is important for them to get to a hospital as quickly as possible. Usually, doctors order immediate procedures like heart catheterizations for these patients. However, new research shows that waiting a day or two for this type of procedure may not harm patients with mild heart attacks or angina. Of course early intervention is imperative for high risk patients and those having more severe attacks.For the lower risk patients, though, the research shows that there was little difference in waiting 36 hours or more to perform coronary angiography followed by procedures such as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or bypass surgery, versus performing these within 24 hours of admittance after routine therapy.
For those who have already undergone these procedures or are otherwise labeled as high risk and had to change jobs or are self employed, high risk health insurance plans may be an option to mitigating the high cost of heart procedures.
Related Links
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_71467.html
