What is cardiology?
Cardiology is the science and study of the cardiac (heart) system. It pertains to heart disorders, including diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, electrophysiology, heart failure and valvular heart disease. It is a subspecialty of internal medicine.Who are cardiologists and what do they do?
Cardiologists diagnose and treat patients of all ages who may have heart defects, heart failure, coronary artery disease or other heart conditions. Some cardiologists distinguish themselves as interventional cardiologists and perform invasive procedures such as cardiac catheterization and coronary artery stent placement. However, they usually do not perform major surgeries such as open heart surgery and coronary artery bypass grafting; those are performed by cardio-thoracic surgeons. Cardiologists may work in private practice or at a hospital.
Cardiologists are doctors trained in internal medicine, with four years of medical school and three years of internal medicine residency followed by 2-3 years of additional training in a cardiology fellowship.What are the different types of cardiologists?
There are two types of cardiologists: noninvasive or invasive.
Noninvasive cardiologists diagnose patients’ heart disorders and focus on preventing and managing potential heart conditions. They may recommend and perform tests to detect and help diagnose heart disorders, such as ECHOs, electrocardiograms (EKGs) and stress tests. A new development in treatment is nuclear cardiology, in which a nuclear camera is used to take photographs of the heart.
Invasive cardiologists are similar to noninvasive cardiologists and can perform all the same functions, tests and diagnostic procedures, but also have training in cardiac catherization, a process that helps locate blockages in the arteries. The invasive cardiologist would then perform an angioplasty or other necessary procedure.What are the most common symptoms and conditions that concern a cardiologist?
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- Abnormal heart rhythm – An irregular heartbeat or “arrhythmia”; either a slow, rapid or irregular heartbeat.
- Atrial fibrillation – Abnormal heartbeats due to fibrillating (quivering) atria heart muscles, diagnosed when an irregular pulse is taken.
- Chest pains – A symptom of various conditions ranging from nonserious to life-threatening, chest pains are generally considered a medical emergency that need immediate medical attention.
- Congestive heart failure – The heart can’t pump blood normally (heart failure), leaving the body without enough oxygen or blood flow, resulting in backed-up fluid in the lungs (congestion).
- Heart defects – Abnormal conditions or disease affecting the heart, present at birth or that develop later in life.
- Heart disease – Diseases affecting the heart – the leading cause of death in the United States.
- Heart failure – The heart can’t pump blood normally, depriving the body of the blood flow and oxygen it needs, sometimes leading to congestive heart failure.
- Myocarditis – Inflammation, mainly secondary to infection, of the heart muscle that may weaken the pumping function of the heart.
- Pericarditis – Inflammation of the membrane around the heart, usually secondary to infection, but may be caused by other chronic health problems. Sharp chest pain may occur when the inflamed pericardium rubs against the heart muscle (myocardium) itself.
- Pulmonary hypertension – An increase in blood pressure in the pulmonary artery, vein or capillaries that results in shortness of breath and significant strain on the heart.
- Shortness of breath – A symptom of a wide variety of heart disorders, ranging from non-serious to life threatening, such as heart attack or congestive heart failure.