Non-Surgical Treatments for Heart Disease
Sunday, September 11th, 2011by Dr. Pierre Angier
People with heart disease are usually given just two options—medications or surgery. But to make an informed decision you need all the facts, including the alternative therapies that are available.
First of all, stents are used far too often. They are helpful in the first few hours after a heart attack to improve blood flow to the heart muscle. They are also indicated when you have angina that doesn’t respond to medication. But let’s be clear, there is no evidence that a stent will reduce your risk of a future heart attack or help you live longer.
So what about bypass surgery? A recent study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine (called the STICH trial) showed that there was no significant difference in longevity between those that had bypass surgery and those that received medication only. In my opinion, for most people the risks of this surgery outweigh the benefits. (more…)
