What are basic tests a cardiologist can do?

How long is too long to wait for a cardiologist?

• Ok! my problem is that from time to time my heart beats irregularly...up to 200 beats per minute but its just for a few seconds and then it returns to normal. This can happen even if I'm resting or walking. These irregular beats were picked up by a bp monitor. I went to the ER and was referred to a cardiologist who eventually saw me nine months later and then I had an echo, a stress test, ekg, a holter monitor for 24 hours and his junior doctor saw me again another nine months after these tests had been done. The holter monitor was inconclusive and now I need a longer one for 48 hours. I will have this done next April and then will see the cardiologist in July 2012. So, in all I will have waited for 27 months for inconclusive tests for an irregular heart beat.!! Am I crazy to wait that long.? I'm an Irish public patient and I'm concerned that I might have a stroke or a heart attack while I'm waiting. Anyone got any ideas on how to get quicker treatment for this problem. Thanks!!

• Answer:

  It depends on the severity of the underlying heart condition. If someone is having a serious life-threatening heart condition, such as a heart attack, then waiting even 1 hour for a Cardiologist is too long. Now if the condition is not serious or life threatening then there can be more of a delay before seeing the Cardiologist. Ideally for any heart condition the patient should be seen as soon as possible. Your condition sounds like possible supraventricular tachycardia, which is also known as SVT. SVT is a condition in which there are episodes of fast heart rate for short periods of time. SVT is rarely a cause of death, but possibly can be associated with episodes of passing out, lightheadedness, etc. If a person has frequent episodes of SVT or severe symptoms, then they should be evaluated sooner than a person who does not have frequent episodes or symptoms. I know that healthcare systems vary in each country and also the wait times to be evaluated by specialist. I work in the United States and in my experience patients with your complaints would be evaluated usually within a month. If the person had severe symptoms like passing out, then they likely would be evaluated right away in the hospital here. There is no consensus on how soon these patients should be evaluated if they do not have severe symptoms and it will vary based on the availability of Cardiologists in your area. Most cases of SVT are not serious. It is rarely associated with death. The SVT you would have would not be associated with strokes. Heart attacks would also be rare. The treatment for SVT varies depending on the frequency of the episodes and the severity of the symptoms if they do occur. If the person does not have frequent episodes or symptoms, then no treatment may be necessary. Sometimes medications are used to reduce the episodes, such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers. If the episodes are very frequent or associated with significant symptoms, then procedures would be considered. In regards to your case, ideally it would be wonderful if your visits to the Cardiologist would be sooner. You have to realize that there are others with more serious heart conditions that could potentially die without treatment that should be seen more urgently. If you develop lightheadedness, chest pain, shortness of breath, pass out, etc. then you need to go to the Emergency Room.