A warning for every senior who ever sets foot in a cardiologist’s office

The bogus “cure” that has heart docs serving jail time

Next time you’re at the cardiologist’s office…watch out. When you’re not looking, he may lift your wallet.

And you’d be much better off if he stole your money that way than the way these other docs are doing it.

I’m talking about artery stenting.

Maybe it’s a life-saving procedure for some patients (the jury is still out on that!). But for most people, it’s just a way for heart docs to cash in.

It’s so bad that some of these docs are actually doing jail time…for subjecting patients to multiple stents that were completely unnecessary. Even hospitals have been reprimanded for putting patients’ lives at risk to raid their bank accounts.

So what landed these guys in the clink?

Well, multiple stents don’t multiply protection. Just the opposite actually. So in many cases, these patients die. Others experience terrible complications. And all of those who survive are trapped in a lifetime commitment to using blood thinners to prevent blood clots

Because the other dirty little secret here is that that stents INCREASE your blood clot risk.

Stayin’ alive

Every single person who sets foot in a cardiologist’s office needs to be aware of these five numbers — each one of them a red flag…

* $110 billion (The amount spent on stenting over the past 10 years)

* 2 out of 3 (The rate of unnecessary elective stents)

* 1 million (The number of Americans who received unnecessary stents over the past decade)

* 773 (Deaths linked to stent complications in 2012 alone)

* 4,135 (Injuries linked to stent complications — also in 2012 — blood clots, perforated arteries, and more)

According to one insider, these numbers are just the tip of the iceberg.

If you’ve had a heart attack or some other cardiac event, a stent might be exactly what you need to stay alive.

But if your heart condition isn’t life-threatening, getting a stent is elective. And this elective area is where things get dangerous. It all comes down to your doctor’s judgment. And too many doctors abuse that trust for a quick payday.

Unfortunately not enough of these guys end up doing jail time. But make sure you aren’t the next victim. Don’t agree to a stent until you get at least a second opinion. And considering that 2 in 3 number above, you may want to make it a third.

Sources:
“Heart Stent Overuse Linked to Deaths” Bloomberg News, 9/27/13, newsmaxhealth.com