Cardiologist
Your cardiovascular system includes your heart, arteries and veins. A cardiologist specializes in the treatment of problems and diseases that affect this system and is most often required by people with heart problems. Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, cardiologists can further specialize in four additional categories:
- Interventional Cardiology: specializing in interventional techniques and the use of devices that prevent the clogging of arteries.
- Electrophysiology: specializing in the electrical workings of the heart.
- Nuclear Cardiology: specializing in the function of the heart.
- Echocardiography: specializing in echocardiograms.
5 Things You Need to Know
- Cardiologists are not heart surgeons; they are experts in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of heart disease. However, surgeons frequently consult cardiologists when dealing with heart problems.
- There are three common tests used to determine your heart health: electrocardiogram (EKG), cardiac catheterization and echocardiogram.
- Pediatric cardiologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of heart problems in babies and children.
- Heart disease is a major problem in the United States, killing and disabling thousands of people each year.
- The most common problems that cardiologists deal with are artery blockage and heart failure.
3 Questions You Need to Ask Your Cardiologist
- What types of tests will you use to diagnose my condition?
- Are there medical options besides surgery to treat my condition?
- What kind of post-operative care do you provide?
Also Known As: Heart doctor, internal medicine specialist
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