Understanding cardiology: When do you need a cardiologist?
The medical specialty of cardiology focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of conditions that affect the heart and blood arteries. A cardiologist in Vernon, NJ is a specialist who treats people who have problems with their hearts and other cardiovascular systems.
What is cardiology?
Internal medicine includes a specialty called cardiology. A cardiologist and a cardiac surgeon are two different types of medical professionals. A cardiac surgeon makes an incision in the chest in order to operate on the heart.
The diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the cardiovascular system are the primary focuses of a cardiologist’s practice. The cardiologist will carry out a series of tests, and they may also undertake various treatments, such as putting a pacemaker, performing cardiac catheterizations, or angioplasty. The term “heart disease” refers to conditions that only affect the heart, while “cardiovascular disease” may damage either the heart or the blood arteries.
In order to become a cardiologist in the United States, one must first finish four years of medical school, then three years of residency training in internal medicine, and then at least three years of fellowship study in cardiology.
When would it be necessary to see a cardiologist?
If a person’s primary care doctor suspects that their patient may have a cardiac disease, the cardiologist is the appropriate specialist to consult. Some of the following are examples of symptoms that may point to a cardiac problem:
- a racing heart, loss of breath, and dizziness
- chest pains
- alterations in the regular beats of the heart high blood pressure
Tests to determine if a patient has a cardiac murmur or an irregular heart rhythm may be performed by a cardiologist.
Patients who have suffered from heart attacks, heart failure, or other cardiac-related conditions are a common kind of patient that they treat. They contribute to the process of deciding whether to do heart surgery, cardiac catheterization, angioplasty, or stenting.
The cardiologist is able to provide guidance on how to avoid developing heart disease. If a person has a history in their family of heart disease or high cholesterol, if they smoke cigarettes or have smoked cigarettes in the past, if they have diabetes, or if they are beginning a new exercise program, they may need to see a cardiologist even if they do not currently have any symptoms of heart disease. A woman who has already been diagnosed with pre-eclampsia may be at an increased risk of developing cardiac issues later in pregnancy or when she enters menopause.