So you were diagnosed with aortic stenosis: now what?
By ShareMD Connect
Aortic stenosis is a common but serious heart disease diagnosis. Early treatment and management of the disease can be key to maintaining a good quality of life and preventing heart failure.
Even if you are experiencing little to no symptoms, damage to your heart may already be occurring. As the American Heart Association notes, many people with aortic stenosis don’t experience noticeable symptoms until the amount of blood flow becomes very restricted, at which time surgical valve replacement becomes more urgent.
After receiving an aortic stenosis diagnosis, your next step is to schedule an appointment with a cardiologist to devise a treatment plan that works for you. Here’s how you do that.
If You’ve Received a Referral
If you received a referral from your primary care physician, even if you have little to no symptoms, it’s important to make an appointment with a cardiologist as soon as possible. The earlier you and your specialist can determine the best treatment plan, the better your chance of an improved overall outcome.
It’s also important to note that even if you’ve received a referral, it is always ok to research other specialists in your area and visit someone else. Getting a second opinion on your diagnosis and/or treatment path is also perfectly acceptable.
Before your first appointment with a cardiologist, gather all your test results, bring a list of all your current medications, and come prepared with any questions you already have.
You may also want to consider having a loved one come to your appointment with you to take notes and ask questions you may not be thinking about.
At the appointment, your cardiologist will walk you through your available treatment options. Depending on the severity of your valve disease, they will either include a “watch and wait” approach, managing symptoms through medication, and/or considering surgery.
Surgical valve replacement is the only proven treatment for aortic stenosis, so it’s a good idea to do some research ahead of time and ask your doctor if you’re a candidate for either SAVR or TAVR.
If You Haven’t Received a Referral
If you’ve been diagnosed with aortic stenosis but your symptoms are nonexistent or mild, then your primary doctor may not immediately send you to a specialist.
If that happens, discuss your concerns with your provider and ask for a referral. You can do that at your next doctor’s appointment, or you can call the office and ask if they can make one for you without coming in.
You can also research the leading providers in your area and make an appointment yourself; just be sure to check with your insurance to see if a referral is needed. Here’s a good tool to help you research qualified cardiologists: https://www.cardiosmart.org/find-your-heart-a-home
For most people, the best option is to ask a trusted advisor for help finding the right provider. ShareMD nurses are here to do exactly that.
Connecting with us is as simple as having a conversation. During a free, confidential phone call, you can explain your situation and get help finding a solution. Our nurses will listen to your needs and work with you to find quality providers that best fit your needs. And, if you decide to, they can even help you set up an appointment.
There’s no catch, no obligation, and it’s free of charge. Our mission is to improve the quality of healthcare for everyone by enabling faster service and personalized support through human-centric care for everyone, not just for the most privileged.
Aortic stenosis is a life-threatening condition and needs to be addressed by a cardiology specialist. Finding one can be hard, but we can help.