Cardiology

Physicians trained in Cardiovascular disease (typically referred to as “cardiology”) focus on prevention, diagnosis, and management of disorders of the cardiovascular system. Cardiologists have completed a minimum of three years of subspecialty training (often called a “fellowship”) beyond their four years of medical school and three years of internal medicine training.  Management of “risk factors” for cardiovascular disease prevention, and early diagnosis and intervention for established disease are important elements of cardiology.

MCH Cardiologists diagnose and treat diseases of the Cardiovascular system and symptoms believed to be related to them.

Your primary care physician may refer you to one of our cardiologists  or  you may call the Cardiologist’s office to see if a cardiology consultation is appropriate.

Diseases Typically Seen by a Cardiologist
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Ischemic heart disease
  • Pericardial diseases
  • Cardiomyopathies
  • Endocarditis
  • Dysrhythmias
  • Valvular heart disease
  • Congenital heart disease in adults
  • Disorders of the veins, arteries, and pulmonary circulation
View Our Cardiac PET and Cardiac Calcium Scoring Imaging

Some cardiologists choose to focus their practice further in specific areas of cardiovascular disease.    Interventional Cardiology represents advanced training in cardiovascular disease and focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease with invasive methods (usually catheter-based).

FAQs

What is a Cardiology Doctor?

A cardiology doctor, often referred to as a cardiologist, is trained to diagnose heart conditions or blood vessels concerns that include diseased vessels, structural problems, and blood clots and offer intervention for established heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease (“CVD”).

What Does A Cardiologist Do?

Cardiologists guide patients to make either major or minor lifestyle changes to prevent onset of cardiovascular disease or focus on managing patients’ risk factors for established heart disease. “Heart disease” is a catch-all phrase for a variety of conditions that affect the heart’s structure and function. Keep in mind – all heart diseases are cardiovascular diseases, but not all cardiovascular diseases are heart disease. The most common type of heart disease is coronary heart disease.

What is a Cardiovascular Doctor?

Physicians trained in Cardiovascular disease (typically referred to as “cardiology”) focus on prevention, diagnosis, and management of disorders of the cardiovascular system. Management of “risk factors” for cardiovascular disease prevention, and early diagnosis and intervention for established disease are important elements of cardiology. Cardiologists have completed a minimum of three years of subspecialty training (often a “fellowship”) beyond their four years of medical school and three years of internal medicine training.

At What Age Should You See A Cardiologist?

It is important to detect cardiovascular disease as early as possible so that management with counselling and medicines can begin. Your primary care physician (PCP) can recommend when you should see a cardiologist after evaluating symptoms of cardiovascular disease. Symptoms depend on which arteries are affected and how much blood flow is blocked. Chest pain (angina), cold sweats, dizziness, extreme tiredness, heart palpitations (feeling that your heart is racing), shortness of breath, nausea and weakness are all symptoms of coronary heart disease. Cessation of tobacco use, reduction of salt in the diet, eating more fruit and vegetables, regular physical activity and avoiding harmful use of alcohol have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

How Often Should You See A Cardiologist?

How often one should see their cardiologist is dependant on ones risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Per the CDC, the most important behavioral risk factors of heart disease and stroke are unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol. The effects of behavioral risk factors may show up in individuals as raised blood pressure, raised blood glucose, raised blood lipids, and overweight and obesity. While Hypertension is not heart disease it can be a major contributing factor for heart disease, which is why hypertension is not something you want to ignore. These “intermediate risks factors” can be measured by your MCH internist / PCP and indicate an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and other complications.

How Many Patients Does A Cardiologist See In A Day at Medical Clinic Of LLP?

When seeing an MCH cardiologist, plan to spend 30 minutes to an hour with your cardiologist plus additoinal time for any recommended testing.