Is your heart healthy enough for surgery?
Common, noncardiac surgeries in older people, such as hip replacement or gallbladder removal, can stress the heart. Certain people at risk for heart disease (such as people with high cholesterol or high blood pressure) may need additional testing prior to major, noncardiac surgery to make sure their hearts are healthy enough for surgery. Such testing is referred to as “clearance for surgery” and is designed to detect any undiagnosed coronary disease.
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