Heart disease is responsible for nearly a quarter of American deaths each year—over 700,000 heart attacks occur in the United States alone. And that’s not counting the myriad other types of heart disease.
Often stemming from atherosclerosis, a condition in which a waxy buildup of plaque in the arteries makes blood flow more difficult, heart disease caught early can often be managed easily and symptoms are often reversible. Unfortunately, given the statistics, far too often the opposite happens, costing Americans lives and dollars. Here is a look at the price of heart disease, for both individuals and the nation as a whole.
Individual Costs
Because of individual differences in health insurance, type of heart disease, and other factors of variability, it is difficult to pinpoint an exact cost for treating or managing cardiovascular diseases. At the very least, a patient battling heart disease can expect not only doctor’s expenses but also specialist costs that may not be covered under insurance.
When heart disease goes unnoticed, undiagnosed, and untreated, it can lead to serious emergencies, such as a heart attack, which can be even more costly, leading to unexpected ambulance and emergency room fees—not to mention the necessary long term treatments. Open heart surgery alone can cost more than $100,000 in the United States!
Also necessary to take into account are the appropriate tests (such as blood tests or imaging tests) that will be required, long-term prescription medications, and time taken off work for recovery.
National Costs
Besides an individual’s out-of-pocket expenses, heart disease costs the nation hundreds of billions of dollars each year. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures:
- Almost 1/6 of all healthcare dollars were spent on heart disease
- $444 billion dollars were spent treating all forms of heart disease
Heart disease is one of the most costly health issues not only for individuals and families, but for the nation as a whole. Severely ill patients not only need healthcare, but also must often find alternate sources of income if they are unable to work. Thus, heart disease costs American health care dollars on the way in and on the way out.
