There are different circumstances that may prompt you to visit a heart clinic like Cadence Heart Centre. If you are experiencing symptoms of heart disease, such as chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, or persistent fatigue with no known cause, then you should see your primary care physician, who will refer you to see a heart doctor if needed.
There are also circumstances that require an immediate visit with your heart doctor—meaning that you can also self-refer yourself to a cardiologist clinic. For example, it is reasonable to self-refer yourself to a heart clinic if you experience chest pain that is radiating to one arm and/or the left side of your jaw.
One of the most asked questions among patients referred to heart doctors is; how much does it cost to see a heart doctor? The average visit with your cardiologist in Singapore is about $500, and the more extensive tests such as stress test, angiogram, MRI of the heart can reach up to $7000. There are different types of health insurance plans offered by different companies which will cover these costs that you may incur when visiting your heart doctor
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How to See a Heart Doctor in Singapore
Now that you have your referral to see a heart doctor, how do you find one? A recommendation is always the best place to start. You can find a reputable heart doctor in the Newton area by asking your family physicians or friends. Since appointments with heart doctors are usually time-sensitive, you should call ahead to make sure the particular doctor is still accepting new patients.
You may also want to look up Google or Yahoo for accredited heart doctors in Singapore by searching ‘best heart doctor, Newton’ or ‘top cardiologists, Newton.’ You can also search online through online directories of heart doctors, some of which are free.
What to Expect during a Heart Doctor Visit
Upon arriving for the appointment with your cardiologist, they will either meet you first before seeing other patients or attend to you immediately after their last patient. If you have any existing medical conditions, it is best that you bring all documentation of your previous tests and procedures.
Your first consultation with your heart doctor usually involves taking a full medical history and doing a physical examination. The doctor will also ask you about your family medical history and a list of medications you are currently taking. If an echocardiogram is needed, the heart doctor may do it right away or schedule a separate appointment with another specialist.
Your next visit is usually called an ‘interval history’ where the doctor will check on your condition and see how well you have been doing with previous medication and test results compared to before. During their examination, cardiologists check for signs of common problems associated with the heart, such as murmurs if there are any abnormal sounds coming from the valves in your heart, asymmetrical pulses in different limbs, etc.
They would also check blood pressure, look at your feet for pedal edema or swelling, listen to your heart for abnormal rhythms, palpate your abdomen for any abnormalities and examine the carotid arteries in your neck. Your doctor may also perform some tests on you which are used to diagnose heart diseases.
Tips for Staying Healthy and Preventing Heart Disease
Heart disease ranks highly as one of the world’s greatest killers. Heart disease was reported to be responsible for the death of 17.9 million people around the world in 2019, making it a major public health concern
The good news is that you can reduce your risk of getting heart disease by adopting a healthy lifestyle. If you’re keen on staying healthy and reducing your risks of suffering heart disease, then the tips below can help you do so:
- Stay physically active at least 30 minutes a day and for most days of the week: Physical activity has been shown to be pretty effective when it comes to reducing the risk of heart disease. The exact amount of physical activity needed to reduce your risk varies from person to person, but in general, aim for exercising the equivalent of 30 minutes of brisk walking most days throughout the week.
- Engage in a regular cardiovascular exercise like aerobic or resistance training: Along with staying physically active, you should also engage in both types of exercises every week. If possible, try to do each type twice a week to maximize your benefits
- Practice good eating habits: Having good eating habits is one way that you can reduce your chances of developing heart disease or having complications later on down the road. Try cutting back on saturated fat and sodium intake while increasing dietary fiber intake
- Maintain a healthy weight by doing regular physical activities and eating a healthy diet: Being overweight or obese is another major risk factor that can put you at higher risk of heart disease. Losing weight can not only help to reduce your chances of getting heart disease, but it may also help improve other diseases like diabetes
- Control your cholesterol levels by exercising regularly, avoiding saturated fat and trans fats, keeping an eye on your blood pressure levels, etc.: Cardiovascular diseases are usually caused by atherosclerosis which means that the arteries are clogged up with lots of fatty substances called plaques. Cholesterol buildup in the blood is one of the biggest risk factors for developing this condition, so it’s important to keep cholesterol levels under control.
- Limit alcohol consumption: Drinking alcohol excessively can increase your chances of developing many types of cancers, which include cancer of the throat, mouth, liver, and breast. Make sure you avoid drinking more than one to two drinks a day
- Smoking can lead to lung disease, heart disease, and emphysema: Smoking is the biggest risk factor for developing all sorts of serious health conditions. It’s linked with numerous cancers, including lung, stomach, and pancreatic cancer. Also, smoking puts you at higher risk of suffering from cardiovascular diseases, so it’s important to stop smoking as soon as possible
Our Conclusion
The cost of seeing a heart doctor in the Newton area shouldn’t be much of an issue if you’re looking for ways to reduce your chances of getting heart disease or having complications later on down the road. What is important is that you focus on staying healthy and adopting a good diet, exercise routine, and lifestyle habits to reduce your risk of heart disease.
At Cadence Heart Centre, our experienced heart doctors will listen to you, conduct an examination, and order necessary tests. Then they’ll talk to you about your results and how they can help you. We offer a range of treatments and services for heart patients, including those with high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, angina, and congestive heart failure.
We use state-of-the-art diagnostic testing equipment and techniques to ensure a speedy diagnosis and accurate results so you can receive the best care possible. For more information on Cadence Heart Centre, visit our website or call us at (65) 6369 8789 today.
Cadence Heart Centre (Dr Devinder Singh) | Heart Screening, Heart Check Up
3 Mount Elizabeth, Medical Centre, 14-13, Singapore 228510
+65 6369 8789
https://cadenceheart.sg/