how much does heart attack treatment cost

How much does it cost to have a heart attack?

Emergency Room Visit: $150-$3,000+. Average Hospitalization: $21,500 for 5.3 Days. Bypass Surgery: $70,000-$200,000. A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart becomes blocked. Unless the blood supply is quickly restored, the interruption can cause damage or even death to parts of the organ. Though heart attack is a leading killer of adults in the U.S., timely …

How much would a heart attack cost you?

It covered most of the costs of his treatment following his heart attack. The total bill for his ambulance rides, heart surgery, and hospital stay came to more than $500,000 in 2012. “I’m the ...

What to eat to reduce risk of heart attack?

Apr 23, 2010 · Direct costs include charges for hospitals, doctors and prescription drugs, while the indirect costs include lost productivity and time …

How to eat well after a heart attack?

Mar 12, 2013 · Dr. Polly Galbraith, vice president and chief medical director at Assurant Employee Benefits, an insurance provider, says the lifetime cost of treating less severe heart attacks can reach $760,000. For a severe heart attack, the cost can reach $1 million.

Fighting for survival

Burns had experienced a “widowmaker” heart attack. This happens when a branch of the left coronary (also known as the left anterior descending artery) becomes completely blocked. This artery supplies oxygen to a large amount of heart muscle tissue, so a blockage in this artery can cause cardiac arrest.

Waking up and walking out

Burns spent the next 11 days in a medically induced coma. While he was lying unconscious, Burns’s doctor warned his wife that he might never wake up.

Breaking old habits

To support his recovery process, Burns enrolled in a cardiac rehabilitation program at the hospital. Through this program, he received nutrition advice and exercised under medical supervision.

Receiving medication and medical tests

In addition to lifestyle changes, Burns’s doctors also prescribed medications to lower his risk of another heart attack. These included blood thinners, beta-blockers, cholesterol medication, and baby aspirin.

Paying for medical care

Burns has an employer-sponsored health insurance plan, paid for by the School Board of Broward County. It covered most of the costs of his treatment following his heart attack.

Living life as the half-million dollar man

These days, Burns is trying to follow his prescribed treatment plan as closely as possible while feeling grateful for the support he’s received from his family and other community members.

Why is exercise important for heart health?

Smoking. According to the Mayo Clinic, regular exercise is vital because it helps control weight, blood pressure and cholesterol. It also reduces stress, which often is a factor in heart disease.

How much does a heart attack cost?

For a severe heart attack, the cost can reach $1 million. The figures include indirect costs, such as lost productivity, as well as direct costs, such as hospitalization. The costs of treating strokes vary more, depending on the length of care required, Galbraith says. If a long-term stay in a nursing home is necessary, ...

Who is Tony Steuer?

Tony Steuer, director of financial preparedness for the United Policyholders consumer group , says stroke and heart attack patients who have health insurance frequently must reach into their own pockets to cover all of their medical costs. How deeply they reach depends on the quality of their coverage.

Is smoking bad for you?

Smoking is one of the most significant risks, since it can damage your heart and blood vessels. “Probably the most important thing is to stop smoking,” Wolk says. “That is crucial.”. Bill to let Sandy victims sue insurers over claims handling sparks debate. It’s Flood Season.

How much does it cost to treat a stroke?

The Stroke Center has estimated the average short-term cost of care for stroke patients. It reports that the cost for up to 90 days of treatment after a stroke is $15,000. For 10 percent of patients, however, the cost during that period reaches $35,000. During the first 90 days of treatment, the center says, initial hospitalization makes up 43 ...

What causes a heart attack?

A heart attack can also be caused by a spasm of a coronary artery that shuts down blood flow to part of the heart muscle.

How to reduce risk of heart attack?

You may be able to reduce your risk for experiencing a heart attack by addressing the following risk factors: Eat a healthy diet. Eat a variety of nutrient-rich, health-promoting foods, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

Is smoking bad for you?

Quit smoking. Smoking is a major contributor to heart disease, with cigarette smokers two to four times more likely to get heart disease than nonsmokers, and exposure to secondhand smoke posing a health risk to pregnant women, infants, and young children.

What is the risk of heart disease in pregnancy?

Preeclampsia – A condition that can develop during pregnancy, preeclampsia is linked to an increased lifetime risk of heart disease. [8] Diabetes – Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to die from heart disease. [9]

How to manage stress?

Manage stress effectively. Chronic stress increases your risk for a number of health problems ranging from depression, digestive problems, and sleep issues to heart disease.Try meditating, getting more sleep and seeking mental healthcare services like counseling if needed. [16] Drink alcohol in moderation.

Can a heart attack cause shortness of breath?

While women can experience the “classic” symptoms of a heart attack like left-arm pain, chest pain or pressure, they are more likely than men to have symptoms unrelated to chest pain, such as: [22] Shortness of breath. Pain or pressure in the upper back. Pain in one or both arms. Sweating.

What to do if you have high blood pressure?

Eat a diet that supports existing health conditions as indicated by your doctor, such as reduced sodium if you have high blood pressure, avoiding trans and saturated fats if you have high cholesterol or CAD, [12] and eating a diet that helps balance blood sugar if you have diabetes. [13]

What happens if you have a stroke?

Suffering a stroke may lead to significant disability, such as paralysis, speech difficulties, and emotional problems. Following a heart attack, individuals frequently suffer fatigue and depression, and they may find it more difficult to engage in physical activities.

How many people die from heart disease in the US every year?

Approximately 1.5 million heart attacks and strokes occur every year in the United States. More than 800,000 people in the United States die from cardiovascular disease each year—that’s 1 in every 3 deaths, and about 160,000 of them occur in people under age 65.

What are the most common health problems in the United States?

Together, heart disease and stroke are among the most widespread and costly health problems facing the nation today. On a personal level, families who experience heart disease or stroke have to deal with not only medical bills but also lost wages and the real potential of a decreased standard of living.

What is a heart attack called?

The type of heart attack (also called myocardial infarction, or MI) you experienced determines the treatments that your medical team will recommend. A heart attack occurs when a blockage in one or more coronary arteries reduces or stops blood flow to the heart, which starves part of the heart muscle of oxygen.

What is partial blockage?

A partial blockage is an “NSTEMI” heart attack or a non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Treatments differ for a STEMI versus NSTEMI heart attack, although there can be some overlap. Hospitals commonly use techniques to restore blood flow to part of the heart muscle damaged during a heart attack: You might receive clot-dissolving drugs ...

What is PCI in hospitals?

About 36 percent of hospitals in the U.S. are equipped to use a procedure called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), a mechanical means of treating heart attack. At a hospital equipped to administer PCI, you would likely be sent to a department that specializes in cardiac catheterization, sometimes called a “cath lab.”.

How do diuretics help the body?

Diuretics: Cause the body to rid itself of excess fluids and sodium through urination. Help to relieve the heart’s workload. Diuretics also decrease the buildup of fluid in the lungs and other parts of the body, such as the ankles and legs. Different diuretics remove fluid at varied rates and through different methods.

Can statins lower cholesterol?

Cholesterol-lowering medications: Various medications can lower blood cholesterol levels, but statins are the best first course of action. When statins prove ineffective, or if a patient experiences serious side effects from statin therapy, other drugs may be recommended.

What is bypass surgery?

Bypass surgery: Treats blocked heart arteries by creating new passages for blood to flow to your heart muscle. Cardiomyoplasty: An experimental procedure in which skeletal muscles are taken from a patient’s back or abdomen. Heart transplant: Removes a diseased heart and replaces it with a donated healthy human heart.

How long does P2Y 12 last?

A second type of antiplatelet agent, called a P2Y 12 inhibitor, is usually prescribed for months or years in addition to the aspirin therapy. The type of medication and the duration of your treatment will vary based on your condition and other risk factors.

What disease did Steve Jobs die from?

Pancreatic disorders. Steve Jobs died of pancreatic cancer. Acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, hereditary pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer are several of the more common disorders that lead to digestive problems in the pancreas. Percent of all US hospital stays: 0.9%.

Where is Judith Garcia?

Judith Garcia, 19, fills a syringe as she prepares to give herself an injection of insulin at her home in the Los Angeles suburb of Commerce, Calif., Sunday, April 29, 2012. Conditions that occur from poor treatment of diabetes are wide-ranging, from vascular diseases, blindness, and chronic kidney disease.

What is rehabilitation in healthcare?

Rehabilitation includes "services that help you keep, get back, or improve skills and functioning for daily living that have been lost or impaired because you were sick, hurt, or disabled."