What Does a Cardiologist Do?

by Kevin Owen

A cardiologist is a medical doctor who specializes in blood vessels, the heart and the cardiovascular system. Conditions treated by a cardiologist include heart attacks, heart murmurs, coronary heart disease and hypertension. Cardiologists practice preventative medicine, diagnose and treat heart disease, and may also perform some minor surgical procedures.

Preventative Medicine

Because many heart problems are chronic long-term conditions, a cardiologist focuses on preventative medicine to neutralize and reverse any progression of heart disease. Cardiologists conduct a physical examination and a patient interview to evaluate a patient's current heart health and predict any potential heart problems. In addition to prescribing medication to patients, a cardiologist might also give dietary, exercise and lifestyle guidance to improve heart health.

Diagnostic Testing

An echocardiogram (ECG) is a primary diagnostic tool used by a cardiologist to determine a patient's heart health. In addition to being able to technically perform an ECG test, a cardiologist is also required to interpret the results. Cardiologists also interpret the results of blood and urine tests, review reports of stress tests, and conduct cardiac catheterization tests using a micro-camera to review video inside a heart.


An electrophysiology is a specialty within cardiology that focuses on the treatment of heart rhythm disorders. These specialized cardiologists implant pacemakers into patients through a brief surgical procedure. Electrophysiology also includes use of electronic defibrillation, which provides an electric shock to the heart to restart a heart beat or correct an irregular heart rhythm.

Other Duties

Like most other doctors, cardiologists may also be required to spend several hours a week on administrative tasks. This work includes updating and maintaining patient records and preparing and submitting insurance forms. Furthermore, as cardiology is a complex and evolving field of medicine, cardiologists are also required to keep current on developments through continued education and training.

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