Written by: Alyssa Sevilla
Clinically reviewed by: Robert Philibert
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. But how long does it take to get a risk assessment? From scheduling an appointment to waiting for results—and even getting an exercise stress test done—the process can be inconvenient and lengthy. This blog post discusses the reality of heart disease testing and its effects on healthcare experiences for both patients and those who have already spotted symptoms.
Heart disease is often a silent killer, and it can take months or years for healthcare providers to uncover the true cause of a patient’s symptoms. This means that getting a risk assessment, even when symptoms are present, can be a lengthy process. First, there needs to be an appointment scheduled with the doctor, which can often require waiting weeks or months before an available slot. Then, there are the tests—blood work, cholesterol levels, and electrocardiograms (ECG’s)—which have to be completed before any insight can be gained into potential risk factors.
After the initial testing is completed, patients may need to go through additional steps such as scheduling an exercise stress test. This test has been proven to be one of the most effective ways of determining heart disease risk but requires specialist equipment and expertise. This means that more than likely patients will have to wait for their primary care physician to refer them out for this type of testing. Furthermore, many insurance companies may decline to cover this test or other types of diagnostic tests —a reality that further adds to the length of time it takes for patients to get answers about their heart health.
This lengthy process is not only inconvenient for patients but also for those who are at higher risk for heart disease due to family history or lifestyle choices. In fact, these individuals could benefit from proactively seeking out a risk assessment and taking preventative action. Still, they may be deterred by the amount of time it takes just to receive results and determine if they are at risk.
The reality is that in today’s healthcare system getting a heart disease risk assessment is inconvenient and lengthy—and something needs to change. Healthcare leaders must look at ways they can make this process more efficient so as not to put people off seeking out preventive measures or getting help when showing symptoms of cardiac issues. More investment in specialist equipment should also be considered so that tests like echo stress tests can become readily available without having long waiting lists or expensive fees attached.
We all need access to timely diagnostics and treatments if we want our population’s overall health outcomes to improve—with Cardio Diagnostics simplified heart disease blood tests, this becomes a reality. By making heart disease testing more straightforward and convenient with no fasting, or radiation exposure required, together with a telemedicine option, Cardio Diagnostics is helping to ensure that patients receive prompt and accurate diagnoses, allowing for faster and more effective treatments. With Cardio Diagnostics, individuals can take control of their heart health and be confident that they are receiving the highest quality care available. Take control of your heart health today.