When to See a Cardiothoracic Surgeon: Signs and Preparation
Wondering when to see a cardiothoracic surgeon? Shortness of breath, palpitations and chest pain are warning signs. Here is how to prepare for the visit.
Diseases or disorders of the thorax (chest) have a very wide range of symptoms. Some of what you feel may point to a mild condition, and some may point to a dangerous one. To find out, you can consult a thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon (also called a cardiothoracic surgeon) and get the right treatment.
Common Complaints in the Chest Area
The chest holds vital organs such as the heart and lungs. Disorders of the heart and lungs can have very varied symptoms. Among these varied symptoms are common ones that point to a problem in the heart, lungs or blood vessels.
Frequent complaints include shortness of breath, heart palpitations, cold sweats, getting tired easily after physical activity, pain and discomfort in the chest, and chest pain that spreads to the neck, back, shoulders and jaw. These complaints are signs that something is wrong with the organs in the chest.
Read also: Types of Cardiac Electrophysiology Interventions
When Is the Right Time to Get Checked?
The right time to see a thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon is when you have the complaints listed above. Go right away to the thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon (known in Indonesia as BTKV) nearest to where you live for further examination.
Chest complaints that are not treated promptly can be fatal, especially if they last a long time or come and go. Further examination by a BTKV doctor is the right step to prevent more serious disease from developing.
What to Prepare Before Meeting a BTKV Doctor
Before the examination, it is best to prepare first. Patients can usually see a BTKV doctor after getting a referral from a general practitioner, a pulmonologist, a cardiologist or an internist. So bring all of your previous test results when you meet the BTKV doctor.
Your previous results are a reference for the BTKV doctor in diagnosing and treating your condition. Also give your full health history, such as the symptoms or complaints you feel, the medications you currently take, any allergies to certain drugs, and other information.
The information you give will greatly help the thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon provide the right treatment for your illness. One important thing to keep in mind is cost: be sure to ask how much you will have to pay, because it may not be small.
Seeing a BTKV doctor is important if you already have complaints related to the organs inside the chest. If you have the symptoms listed above, get examined by a BTKV doctor right away for a further diagnosis.
Read also: Preparing for Thoracic Surgery: What Patients Need to Know
