Cardiology
Cardiology is the study and treatment of disorders of the heart and the blood vessels. A person with heart disease or cardiovascular disease may be referred to a cardiologist.
A cardiologist will review a patient’s medical history and carry out a physical examination.
They may check the person’s weight, heart, lungs, blood pressure, and blood vessels, and carry out some tests.
An interventional cardiologist may carry out procedures such as angioplasties, stenting, valvuloplasties, congenital heart defect corrections, and coronary thrombectomies.
Symptoms that can indicate a heart problem include:
- shortness of breath
- dizziness
- chest pains
- changes in heart rate or rhythm
- high blood pressure
Heart diseases that a cardiologist can help with include:
- atherosclerosis
- atrial fibrillation
- arrhythmias
- congenital heart disease
- coronary heart disease
- congestive heart disease
- high blood cholesterol and triglycerides
- hypertension
- pericarditis
- ventricular tachycardia
- high blood pressure, or hypertension
The cardiologist can give advice about preventing heart disease.