“A coronary artery that has been narrowed by 50 to 70 percent should have a stent implanted. Only patients with arteries narrowed by less than 30 percent can benefit from [lifestyle changes such as] exercising,” he said.
The cardiologist said it was unlikely that doctors would prescribe invasive treatments based solely on whether the treatments are covered by the NHI, because “the bureau is very strict on violations.”
When it comes to serious problems such as hardening of the arteries, relying on lifestyle changes is not very effective, he said.
One thing the doctors did agree on, however, was that patients who are told they need surgery should seek a second opinion.
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