Financial issues, stress may affect preventive care

"With the added stress of a recession and many patients watching their finances more closely, doctors fear preventive heart health may fall by the wayside in the coming months. Dr. Christie Ballantyne, chief of the section of atherosclerosis and vascular medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and the director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, says although patients may be trying to save money, skipping doctor visits or medications should not be an option for their budget cuts. Since stress increases blood pressure and heart strain and could cause other poor health habits, eliminating a doctor’s visit could potentially increase the risk for major damage, and in the long run could cost even more. 'The most important thing right now is to communicate all concerns to your doctor,' says Ballantyne. 'That includes cost concerns.' - Houston Business Journal

Cost of hospital cardiac care on the rise (USA)

U.S. hospital costs for treating cardiovascular conditions have increased about 40% within the last decade, according to the latest federal government numbers. The increase, from $40 billion in 1997 to $57.9 billion in 2006, occurred mainly between 1997 and 2003, according to the report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Since then,the annual growth in hospital costs for treating these conditions has slowed to less than 2% due to a decline in the number of heart disease cases and slower increases in cost per case. - Source: U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, news release, Dec. 10, 2008

Americans cutting back on medical care because of high cost

In an international study, at least half of chronically ill patients in the U.S. said they had to cut back on medicine and treatment because they could not afford to pay for it. At least 30 percent of patients surveyed said they would not go see a doctor because of cost. Watch the video - VOA