The study and treatment of blood vessels and heart-related disorders are known as cardiology. Anyone suffering from a heart or cardiovascular disease can be referred to a cardiologist, who further diagnoses and treats the disease related to the cardiovascular system. A cardiologist near you will perform tests and procedures such as angioplasty, pacemaker insertion, or heart catheterizations. A heart disease particularly relates to the heart whereas, cardiovascular disease may affect blood vessels along with the heart, or both.
Types of cardiology
The branch of cardiology can be categorized into 4 major sub-branches mentioned below.
Invasive cardiology: This type of cardiology includes minimally-invasive techniques for identifying and treating electrical or structural abnormalities in heart structure. The most common types of invasive cardiology include
- Angioplasty
- Stenting
Non-invasive cardiology: The process of non-invasive cardiology includes the identification of heart problems without the use of any instruments, fluids, or needles that are inserted into the body. The major types and techniques involved in non-invasive cardiology include
- Echocardiography
- Stress tests
- Nuclear cardiology
- CT scans
- Cardiac electrophysiology
- Heart monitoring
After the cardiologist near you identifies the problems and risk factors, they might recommend medications and ask you to make lifestyle changes for the improvement of your heart’s health.
Interventional cardiology: This is a type of non-surgical technique in which a catheter (small, flexible tube) is used to repair the weakened or damaged vessels, contracted arteries, and other parts of the heart. The conditions treated through interventional cardiology include
- Heart Valve Disease
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Peripheral Vascular Disease
Pediatric Cardiology: A pediatric cardiologist is the person who evaluates, diagnoses, and treats cardiovascular problems of the fetus, adolescent, infant, or young adult. Some children have structural differences in their cardiovascular system while others have issues with the electrical system controlling the heartbeat. A pediatric cardiologist is professionally trained for diagnosing and treating all these problems. The tests and procedures followed by them are listed below.
- Cardiac MRI
- Electrophysiology
- Cardiac Catheterization
- ECMO (Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation)
- Echocardiogram
- Fatal Cardiology
When to visit a cardiologist
When a person has symptoms of heart disease or condition, his/her physician might recommend a cardiologist. There are several symptoms associated with heart disease, that include
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- High blood pressure
- Changes in heart rhythm or rate
A number of tests may be performed by a cardiologist regarding an abnormal heart rhythm issue. The heart problems that a cardiologist might help you with include
- Arrhythmias
- Congestive heart disease
- Atrial fibrillation
- Coronary heart disease
- Atherosclerosis
- Congenital heart disease
- Hypertension
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol
- Pericarditis
A cardiologist may also provide you with proper advice regarding the prevention of your heart disease. If someone does not face any heart-related symptoms but have a family history of high cholesterol and heart diseases, he should also visit a cardiologist. Also, people who smoke, have diabetes, or are about to start a new exercise program, are also recommended to make a visit to a cardiologist. Common Chronic Diseases And The Risk Factors
How to choose a cardiologist
A patient is mostly referred to a cardiologist by their doctor or physician. Though, they may also choose their own cardiologist. It has been advised by the AHA (American Heart Association) to check if the cardiologist is board certified or not. One can do this through ABFM (American Board of Family Medicine) or ABIM (American Board of Internal Medicine).
It is also essential to choose a specialist whose style of interaction and communication suits them. If the treatment provided by a cardiologist seems risky to consume or is expensive, it’s recommended by AHA to switch to another cardiologist.
Wrapping it up
Apricus Health provides the best cardiologists in Arizona providing comprehensive care while using the latest treatment strategies and equipment. Visit the website for more information.
