Cardiologist Online

Do you have heart problems?

A is a doctor specializing in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, which include heart muscle and blood vessel conditions. Among the most frequently reported complaints during a cardiology consultation are symptoms of arrhythmia, coronary artery disease, and atherosclerosis. Discover what symptoms warrant a visit to the cardiologist and what tests this doctor may order.

What other symptoms should lead to a visit to the cardiologist?

What other symptoms should lead to a visit to the cardiologist? Pay attention to feelings of palpitations or irregular heartbeats, elevated or decreased blood pressure, rapid (tachycardia) or slow heart rate (bradycardia), cold hands, swollen ankles, facial swelling, or a squeezing sensation in the chest.

It’s also advisable to see a cardiologist preventively if there are cardiovascular diseases in the family, if you’re considering engaging in competitive sports, or if you’re preparing for major surgery. Some cardiac conditions diagnosed in close relatives, such as cardiomyopathies or channelopathies, have a genetic basis and may be inherited from generation to generation. Individuals over 50 years of age should schedule a cardiology consultation annually for preventive purposes.

Who should consider a cardiology consultation?

A cardiologist is a physician who deals with the cardiovascular system. Regular visits to this specialist are recommended for individuals dealing with congenital defects or chronic cardiovascular diseases. This approach helps limit the effects of the disease and reduce the risk of complications.

Symptoms that should prompt a cardiology consultation include shortness of breath, rapid fatigue, breathlessness with minimal physical exertion, fainting, loss of consciousness, fainting spells, and dizziness.

Scope of cardiology advice

Wondering what a cardiologist does? During a cardiology consultation, a wide range of services is provided, including:

early detection of cardiovascular diseases;
planning and scheduling of cardiological treatment;
issuing e-sick leave;
prescribing e-prescriptions;
physical examination of the patient (including measurement of blood pressure, auscultation of the lungs and heart);
conducting interviews with patients;
referring patients for tests, followed by interpretation of test results, such as chest X-rays, ECGs, echocardiograms;
health education and preventive measures related to the cardiovascular system;
routine monitoring of chronic cardiovascular diseases;
referring patients for cardiac rehabilitation;
referring patients for hospital treatment.

Depending on the scope of advice needed, a cardiology consultation may be conducted online or in person.

Course of a cardiology consultation

A visit to the cardiologist, like any other specialist, begins with a medical history. What does the cardiologist ask during the initial visit? The doctor asks questions about experienced symptoms (their type, intensity, factors affecting their severity), medical history (past and present illnesses, past surgeries), family history of cardiovascular diseases, medications taken, and lifestyle.

If any tests have been performed recently, the patient should bring their results. It’s beneficial if they keep a journal of home blood pressure measurements, which they can present during the cardiology consultation. Then, the doctor conducts examinations – from basic ones, such as measuring blood pressure, measuring pulse, listening to the chest, to more specialized ones.

After performing necessary tests and analyzing the results, the specialist plans the treatment path. Depending on the case, treatment may involve lifestyle changes and pharmacotherapy or (in more severe cases) may require surgical intervention, such as pacemaker implantation, bypass surgery, or aortic valve replacement.

What tests might the doctor order during a cardiology consultation?

echocardiography

ultrasound examination of the heart muscle, allowing observation of chambers and valves, and providing insight into how the heart works.

electrocardiography (ECG)

evaluation of heart function, checking for any disturbances in its functioning, based on the electrical recording of heart muscle activity.

holter monitoring

24-hour monitoring of heart function during daily activities and sleep.

exercise ECG

used to assess cardiovascular fitness and monitor blood pressure in individuals undergoing physical exertion.

chest X-ray

basic imaging examination visualizing the respiratory tract, lungs, spine, heart, and chest bones.

ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

24-hour recording of arterial blood pressure (minimum, maximum, and average) and heart rate.

doppler ultrasound

allows assessment of the direction and speed of blood flow, thus the condition and functionality of blood vessels.

laboratory tests

from basic ones such as blood morphology, creatinine, fasting glucose, lipid profile, determination of sodium and potassium levels, to specialized tests, depending on symptoms and suspected diseases.

other tests

coronary angiography, scintigraphy, computed tomography of the chest, magnetic resonance imaging of the chest and heart, positron emission tomography (PET) of the heart, and non-invasive examination of peripheral arterial hemodynamics.

What diseases does a cardiologist treat?

A cardiologist treats diseases of the heart muscle and blood vessels. Among the most commonly treated conditions in a cardiology clinic are:

coronary artery disease, also known as coronary artery disease;
hypertension (although this is usually managed by a hypertension specialist, which is a rarely encountered specialty);
heart failure;
heart rhythm disorders;
atherosclerosis of blood vessels;
myocarditis;
acquired and congenital heart defects;
valve disorders;
heart attack (myocardial infarction), especially concerning patient follow-up after hospital treatment;
venous thromboembolic disease;
cardiomyopathies — cardiac diseases associated with abnormalities in the structure and function of the heart muscle.

Cardiologist Online