Cardiologists Worry Patients Delayed Sign Up for Visits: Delaying Visits Puts Health at Risk | Lifetime

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Older people know that it is time to monitor their health.

“However, a middle-aged person should not only monitor and know their blood pressure, but also evaluate their blood glucose, especially if they are overweight, have a lipid test and know their cholesterol levels. This is important because what we do today for heart health comes back in the future and determines the quality and longevity of human life, ”says Dr. N. Kupstytė-Krištaponė, speaking not only of the most important blood tests, but also a healthy lifestyle.

At the Šiauliai Republican Hospital, cardiologists did a lot to make the availability of services and treatment of cardiologists the best possible, as they received complaints about long lines. Unfortunately, many do not take advantage of these opportunities at this time because there is not much help from referring cardiologists.

Statistics show that in 2018-2019, cardiologists provided more than 1,000 consultations per month and the wait time for a specialist was three months or more. Today, with a team of six new physicians, structural changes and changes in the work of all departments, cardiologist-consultants can consult many more patients. Unfortunately, it was not because of the strengthening of the team that disappeared, but because of the slowness in the registration of people for consultations.

With real-life counseling for more than 1,500 primary patients a month, cardiologists go through a period of anxiety after quarantine because they don’t see patients.

Why don’t people come?

Part of the services were suspended during the quarantine by cardiologists. Routine rhythm restoration procedures, coronagraphs, and other interventional treatment services were not performed, but all emergency care was provided. After the quarantine, the work was especially intense: two shifts of interventional cardiologists were introduced, so there are currently no queues for cardiology exams, pacing tests or hospitalization in the ward.

This was also influenced by the six young cardiologists who came to the center and started working, whose specialization is very broad. Interventional cardiologist Robertas Pranevičius is very helpful in the Department of Interventional Angiology, a young doctor is an enthusiast of his profession who wants to become a true expert in his field. Electrophysiology specialist Tautvydas Platūkis implants stimulators, performs stimulator test, so there is currently no queue for stimulator test. The young cardiologists Agnė Mažutavičiūtė, Julija Jurgaitytė and Rūta Viršinskaitė work in a hospital and consult in a polyclinic. They also have their own specializations and greatly complement the team’s work with their knowledge.

Head of the Cardiovascular Center dr. N. Kupstytė-Krištaponė has repeatedly asked the public and family doctors to report that the Cardiovascular Center, which has all the necessary innovative medical equipment, provides the opportunity to quickly and timely help a person with cardiovascular problems, is open to patients. .

So the reasonable question is, why don’t people see doctors, why don’t they come?

“Patients tell us that it is difficult to get a consultation with a family doctor and get a referral. Others, especially elderly patients who visit annually for certain heart conditions, fear the coronavirus this year and avoid counseling, delay it. Perhaps the change in the registration procedure with a specialist will also be affected, as the sergu.lt website is no longer used and the IPR IS pre-patient registration system has been changed, ”notes N. Kupstytė-Krištaponė.

“We very much hope that those who need annual preventive visits will experience certain worrisome symptoms: insufficient blood pressure correction, swollen legs, shortness of breath, chest discomfort on waking up in the morning or during exercise, especially if chronic diseases are detected. , because Those who need an annual checkup will definitely think that there is a good chance of seeing a cardiologist at this time, because there are no queues, ”says the doctor, emphasizing that everything possible was done to complain about the long wait or the need of seeking a paid cardiologist consultation.

Alarming symptoms

Doctors are more concerned that symptoms that would require a visit to a cardiologist may go unnoticed. Dr. N. Kupstytė-Krištaponė emphasizes that the increase in blood pressure cannot go unnoticed. According to the cardiologist, if a patient is taking blood pressure regulators but does not adequately regulate blood pressure, which should be less than 130/80 mmHg, consultation with a cardiologist and correction of medication is required.

Another large group of patients who regularly see cardiologists are those with heart failure. The main signs of this disease are swelling of the legs, shortness of breath, which the patient often prescribes for other problems, fatigue. But these are usually the main symptoms of heart failure, in which case not only the consultation of a cardiologist is required, but also a complete examination of the heart.

Patients diagnosed with heart valve disease, cardiac surgery, or implanted valve prostheses with arrhythmias should also remember to visit a cardiologist. With the timely arrival of pain in the cardiac area, tests, including an interventional evaluation of the cardiovascular system, can be performed to adjust treatment to prevent myocardial infarction and other serious complications.

The symptoms of cardiovascular disease receive a lot of attention each year on September 29 to mark World Heart Day. The cardiologists of the Šiauliai Republican Hospital are already organizing a meeting of cardiologists at the hospital on the 28th, to which the Minister of Health, the mayor of the city and other guests have been invited. During the event, the construction project of the Intervention Angiology Department building will be presented.

“We really have something to be proud of, because we are making progress with the whole world in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiological diseases,” says the head of the center and invites citizens, residents of the district, guests of the city, September 28 4 pm to come to the Didždvaris gym, from where all participants will take a tour of Šiauliai, thus reminding the public of the importance of the movement for heart health. The cardiologists at the hospital will be involved with everyone, so this will be a good opportunity to meet and communicate with doctors who care about the health of your heart.