The Cardiologist

When would I see a heart specialist?

This sort of healthcare supplier is just not a major healthcare supplier. Cardiologists work solely with individuals who want particular coronary heart care. Or have had coronary heart situations prior to now. Different healthcare suppliers could seek the advice of with them about coronary heart illness or different situations. You may even see a heart specialist when you have signs of coronary heart or blood vessel issues. These could embrace:

What does a heart specialist do?

A heart specialist diagnoses and treats issues of the center and blood vessels. These embrace:

Cardiologists work in hospitals and in personal practices. They could:

• Offer you a bodily examination

• Order assessments, comparable to an electrocardiogram, blood assessments, train stress check, or echocardiogram

• Interpret the outcomes of assessments to diagnose a well being situation you’ll have

• Prescribe remedy, comparable to medication

• Advise life-style adjustments, comparable to adjustments in your weight loss program, weight, stress, and bodily exercise

• Counsel you on dangers and prevention

• Do some procedures, comparable to cardiac catheterization, coronary angiography, or implantation of a cardiac digital gadget, comparable to a pacemaker

• Refer you to a cardiac surgeon, interventional heart specialist, or a cardiac electrophysiologist if wanted

Some cardiologists additionally train in universities and do analysis. They could assist to create new remedies for coronary heart issues.

Particular varieties of heart specialist

A heart specialist will typically focus their care on one sort of affected person. An grownup heart specialist sees solely adults. A pediatric heart specialist sees solely infants, kids, or teenagers. They’re licensed by the American Board of Pediatrics.

A heart specialist could get extra coaching in a particular space of coronary heart care. ABIM additionally certifies healthcare suppliers in heart problems. This space focuses on take care of individuals with issues of the center and blood vessels. These embrace:

• Coronary heart assault

• Coronary heart valve illness

• Hypertension

• Some sorts of arrhythmia

These healthcare suppliers will also be licensed in what is named a subspecialty. These embrace:

• Superior coronary heart failure and transplant cardiology. This focuses on take care of individuals who have coronary heart failure. They could want a coronary heart transplant.

• Medical cardiac electrophysiology. This focuses on testing and treating the center for rhythm issues.

• Interventional cardiology. This focuses on utilizing skinny tubes (catheters) in blood vessels. It is performed to search out and deal with issues within the vessels and the center.