Do you need a nuclear stress test? Imaging stress tests take pictures of the heart while it is working hard. Ultrasound and echo-cardiography tests take pictures with sound waves. Nuclear cardiology tests use a small amount of a radioactive substance to get pictures. You may need an imaging stress test if you have symptoms of […]
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Do you need a nuclear stress test or CT scan after a heart procedure? If you’ve had bypass surgery or a stent inserted to open a blocked artery in your heart, you may wonder if you need regular imaging tests to see how well your treatment is working. Imaging tests take pictures of your heart. […]
Five questions to ask about medical tests before you have surgery. Some pre-op tests provide little benefit. And in some cases, they may even cause harm. Talk to your doctor to make sure you end up with the right pre-op tests —not too many and not too few. http://consumerhealthchoices.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/ChoosingWiselyMedTestsPosterSmallPrinter.pdf
Do you need a medical test before your surgery? Doctors often order medical tests for patients before surgery. These are called pre-operative or “pre-op” tests. They include chest X-rays, blood and urine samples, and heart and lung tests. These tests can be helpful if you are having serious surgery, especially if you have health problems. […]
Inpatient Admission vs. “Observation” Status: The difference is costly Did you know that even if you stay in a hospital overnight, you might still be considered an “outpatient?” Your hospital status (whether the hospital considers you an “inpatient” or “outpatient”) affects how much you pay for hospital services (like X-rays, drugs, and lab tests) and […]
When do you need an Echocardiogram? Valve disease is caused by a heart valve that does not work properly. A test called an Echocardiogram can show how serious the problem is and if it is getting worse. But if your valve disease is mild, and it is not causing any symptoms, you probably don’t need […]
Why is healthy eating important? When combined with exercise, a healthy diet can help you lose weight, lower your cholesterol level and improve the way your body functions on a daily basis. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Guide Pyramid divides food into 6 basic food groups, consisting of 1) grains, 2) fruits, 3) vegetables, 4) […]
How much exercise do I need? Talk to your doctor about how much exercise is right for you. A good goal for many people is to work up to exercising 4 to 6 times a week for 30 to 60 minutes at a time. Remember, though, that exercise has so many health benefits that any […]