When Might Your Doctor Send You To A Cardiac Care Center?
As healthcare continues to improve, more specialized centers are opening. Thanks to these changes, cardiac care centers are becoming more popular. These medical facilities exist to specifically care for the needs of those with heart-related ailments and concerns. So, when might your doctor recommend you go to a cardiac care center?
You've had a heart attack
If you go to the emergency room with heart attack symptoms, the emergency room may work with you as far as getting you stable and confirming that a heart attack is, in fact, to blame for your symptoms. But then they are likely to send you to either a cardiac care center or the cardiac unit of the hospital. A cardiac care center is staffed by doctors who have more specialized knowledge of the heart than the doctors working in the ER. These centers also have the equipment to more closely monitor your heart function as you recover, and the team there can devise a better recovery protocol for you.
You have an ongoing heart condition that needs to be addressed
Perhaps you have a long-standing arrhythmia, congestive heart failure, or some other ongoing heart condition. Your primary care doctor may be able to prescribe basic medications to help manage these conditions, but at some point, you're going to need more care. You may need tests, such as a stress test or EKG, to see how your heart is functioning currently. You may even need a procedure such as bypass surgery or angioplasty. Sending you to a cardiac care unit is a good way for your primary care physician to make sure you truly get the testing and treatment you need to prevent bigger problems down the road.
You recently had heart surgery
If you went to the emergency room with the need for immediate heart surgery, the ER will likely send you to the cardiac care center for recovery post-surgery. This gives cardiovascular physicians a chance to monitor your progress as you recover. They can set you up with a dietary protocol to follow, and they can arrange for any follow-up testing you might need, such as an echocardiogram or stress test.
Cardiac care centers make it really convenient to get all of the heart care you need in one place. Whether you need a procedure, already had a procedure, or are working to manage an ongoing heart condition, don't hesitate to seek care at one of these centers.
