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Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP

(432 Ratings)

Specializes in: Adult Cardiology

University of Minnesota Medical School

Professional interests include: non-invasive cardiology, atherosclerosis, heart problems, and more.

200 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, IA 52242

(319) 356-7031

Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP is a cardiologist in Iowa City, IA specializing in adult cardiology. He graduated from University of Minnesota Medical School. Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP is affiliated with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and University of Iowa Health Care.

Office Locations

200 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, IA 52242

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3600 30th Street Central Iowa Hcs (636a7) Des Moines Division
Des Moines, IA 50310

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Some issues Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP can help you with:

Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease. It happens when the blood vessels carrying blood to the heart, called coronary arteries, narrow and harden. This occurs when cholesterol, a type of fat found in the blood, builds up to form plaque, which sticks to the inner walls of the arteries. As plaque accumulates, less blood can flow through the arteries, which may lead to the following:

Angina, which is chest pain that occurs when the heart does not receive enough blood flow.
Heart attack, which happens if the arteries leading to the heart are completely blocked.
Arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, which can develop if the heart does not have enough blood supply.
Heart failure, which may occur if a heart attack damages the heart and it becomes too weak to pump enough blood to the rest of the body.

Certain factors may increase risk for the disease, like smoking, lack of exercise, being overweight, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. CAD tends to develop over decades, so it can go undetected until it has become quite severe. A diagnosis may be established using such tests as:

Electrocardiogram (ECG), which records the heart's electrical activity over a period of time. ECGs can detect whether there is enough blood flow to the heart or if a heart attack has occurred.
Echocardiogram (echo), which creates images of the heart using sound waves. Echos can show whether the heart is able to pump blood normally.
Stress tests, where an ECG or echo is combined with exercise, like riding a stationary bike or walking on a treadmill. This test is done to find out if the heart can function properly while performing a strenuous activity.

Treatments for the disease include medications such as vasodilators, like nitroglycerin, which dilates (widens) the coronary arteries. CAD may also be treated by a procedure called angioplasty with stent placement, where a balloon is inflated inside a diseased artery to flatten the plaque deposits against the artery walls, creating more room for blood to flow.

In some severe cases of the disease, multiple arteries may be blocked, and an open heart surgery called coronary artery bypass surgery may be necessary. This operation transplants a vessel from another part of the body to form a graft that goes past the narrowed arteries, thus enabling blood to flow around those arteries.

Heart Problems

The heart is one of the most important organs in the body. This smooth muscle expands and contracts rhythmically an entire lifetime, pumping blood to the lungs and then to every other cell in the body. When heart problems occur, it becomes difficult for the body to get the nutrients and oxygen it needs via the blood. So while there are a variety of illnesses and disorders that affect the heart, most of them cause weakness, exhaustion and shortness of breath. The most common heart conditions include heart disease, angina, arrhythmia, and valve disorders.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women. This includes coronary artery disease, heart attacks, congestive heart failure, and congenital heart disease. Some conditions, such as genetics, cannot be controlled. But there are many other things one can do to lower their risk for heart disease. Controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reducing or stopping smoking, exercising more and losing weight if needed, and eating a diet low in sodium can all protect the heart.

Angina is a squeezing type of chest pain that happens when the muscles around the heart don't get enough oxygen. It can be regular or infrequent. Usually, angina is caused by coronary heart disease. However, not all chest pain is angina. Chest pain can also be caused by a lung infection or panic attack, for example, so it is important to have any sudden pain checked.

Arrhythmia is the word for when the heart beats too fast, too slow, or irregularly with skipped beats. It can feel frightening, and depending on the type it can be dangerous, but in most cases arrhythmia is not serious and can be treated. It is very common, especially in older adults.

Heart valve problems can happen in any one of the the heart's four valves that keep blood flowing where it needs to go. Babies can be born with problems in their heart valves, or valves can be damaged by infections. The valves can stiffen and become less mobile, or they can stop closing properly and 'leak' when the heart beats. Valve problems can usually be repaired surgically.

In The News

"UI Heart and Vascular Center open house", University of Iowa Health Care

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	130

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	165

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP.

**Gender**
Male	64
Female	54

**Age**
From 65 to 74	29
From 75 to 84	39
85 and over	24
Less than 65	26

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP in 2013

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	48
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	64
Depression	22
Chronic Kidney Disease	31
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	25
Heart Failure	47
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	25
Diabetes	33
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	122

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP.

**Gender**
Male	43
Female	47

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	90
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	30
From 75 to 84	29
85 and over	0
Less than 65	0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP in 2014

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	52
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	66
Depression	16
Chronic Kidney Disease	33
Asthma	0
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	36
Heart Failure	51
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	28
Diabetes	32
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	116

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP.

**Gender**
Male	104
Female	86

**Age**
From 65 to 74	58
From 75 to 84	60
85 and over	44
Less than 65	28

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP in 2015

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	56
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	69
Depression	22
Chronic Kidney Disease	37
Asthma	13
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	26
Heart Failure	48
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	21
Diabetes	32
Dementia	0
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	158

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP.

**Gender**
Male	51
Female	54

**Age**
From 65 to 74	28
From 75 to 84	33
85 and over	26
Less than 65	18

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP in 2016

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	43
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	68
Depression	19
Chronic Kidney Disease	38
Asthma	21
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	25
Heart Failure	57
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	20
Diabetes	34
Dementia	10
Cancer	0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP treated as a cardiologist in Iowa City, IA during 2017 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	171
hospital care	171
inpatient care	171

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP.

**Gender**
Male	92
Female	86

**Age**
From 65 to 74	54
From 75 to 84	52
85 and over	44
Less than 65	28

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP in 2017

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	60
Stroke	7
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	29
Chronic Kidney Disease	58
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	26
Heart Failure	70
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	23
Diabetes	40
Dementia	15
Cancer	6

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP treated as a cardiologist in Iowa City, IA during 2018 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	156
hospital care	271
inpatient care	271

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP.

**Gender**
Male	117
Female	100

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	204
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	69
From 75 to 84	59
85 and over	46
Less than 65	43

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP in 2018

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	70
Stroke	12
Ischemic Heart Disease	75
Depression	32
Chronic Kidney Disease	65
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	35
Heart Failure	71
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	31
Diabetes	46
Dementia	17
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP treated as a cardiologist in Iowa City, IA during 2019 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	82
hospital care	86
inpatient care	86

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP.

**Gender**
Male	66
Female	55

**Age**
From 65 to 74	49
From 75 to 84	32
85 and over	16
Less than 65	24

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP in 2019

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	70
Stroke	10
Ischemic Heart Disease	74
Depression	33
Chronic Kidney Disease	60
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	0
Atrial Fibrilation	27
Heart Failure	59
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	28
Diabetes	39
Dementia	15
Cancer	14

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP treated as a cardiologist in Iowa City, IA during 2020 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	75
hospital care	60
inpatient care	60

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP.

**Gender**
Male	151
Female	101

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	237
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	111
From 75 to 84	63
85 and over	35
Less than 65	43

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP in 2020

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	63
Stroke	10
Ischemic Heart Disease	62
Depression	35
Chronic Kidney Disease	58
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	6
Atrial Fibrilation	27
Heart Failure	53
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	24
Diabetes	35
Dementia	16
Cancer	14

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP treated as a cardiologist in Iowa City, IA during 2021 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	91
hospital care	105
inpatient care	105

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP.

**Gender**
Male	121
Female	81

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	182
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	75
From 75 to 84	62
85 and over	31
Less than 65	34

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP in 2021

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	66
Stroke	12
Ischemic Heart Disease	66
Depression	31
Chronic Kidney Disease	60
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	5
Atrial Fibrilation	31
Heart Failure	56
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	22
Diabetes	36
Dementia	16
Cancer	14

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP treated as a cardiologist in Iowa City, IA during 2022 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	92
hospital care	103
inpatient care	103

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP.

**Gender**
Male	111
Female	94

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	187
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	83
From 75 to 84	69
85 and over	21
Less than 65	32

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP in 2022

Hypertension	75
High Cholesterol	75
Stroke	17
Ischemic Heart Disease	61
Depression	33
Chronic Kidney Disease	38
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	12
Atrial Fibrilation	43
Heart Failure	54
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	27
Diabetes	38
Dementia	8
Cancer	18

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2022

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP treated as a cardiologist in Iowa City, IA were hospital care and inpatient care.

doctor visit	123
hospital care	132
inpatient care	132

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2022

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP.

**Gender**
Male	83
Female	68

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	0
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	81
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	0
Other	0

**Age**
75 to 84	45
85 and over	26
Less than 65	25
65 to 74	53

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP From 2012 - 2022

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP treated were hypertension, ischemic heart disease, high cholesterol and heart failure.

Hypertension	68
High Cholesterol	54
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	61
Depression	24
Chronic Kidney Disease	43
Asthma	8
Osteoporosis	2
Heart Failure	51
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	22
Diabetes	33
Atrial Fibrillation	27
Dementia	8
Cancer	7

Education & Training

Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP graduated from University of Minnesota Medical School. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine American Board of Internal Medicine (Cardiovascular Disease) American Board of Cardiovascular Diseases and has a state license in Iowa.

Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School

Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine American Board of Internal Medicine (Cardiovascular Disease) American Board of Cardiovascular Diseases

Licensed In: Iowa

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

University of Iowa Health Care

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.81 out of 5 stars based on 432 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP from all over the web to help you find the right in Iowa City, IA.

4.81

Overall Rating

(432 Ratings)

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Christopher J. Benson, MD, FACP. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Abbott Laboratories	$50 THORATEC HEARTMATE 3 LVAS IMPLANT KIT $50
Boston Scientific Corporation	$43 RESONATE EL ICD VR $24	WATCHMAN $20
ZOLL Services LLC (A/K/A ZOLL LifeCor Corp)	$28 LifeVest $28
ZOLL Circulation Inc	$24 Temperature Management System Start-Up Kit $24
IMPULSE DYNAMICS (USA) INC.	$23 OPTIMIZER $23
Other	$13 FABRAZYME $13

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$182

Biography

Dr. Christopher Benson's specialty is adult cardiology. Areas of expertise for Dr. Benson include atherosclerosis, angina, and coronary artery disease. He is professionally affiliated with the University of Iowa Health Care and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He attended medical school at the University of Minnesota Medical School. His average rating from his patients is 5.0 stars (out of 5).