Cardiologists are doctors who specialize in the study and treatment of disorders of the cardiovascular system, which includes the heart, arteries, and veins. Cardiologists specialize in diagnosing and treating conditions, diseases, and disorders affecting the cardiovascular system.
They perform tests and procedures such as heart catheterizations and placement of pace makers. While cardiologists have the ability to do a plethora of things related to the cardiovascular system, they do not perform heart surgeries. Cardiologists take care of patients’ needs up until they need a heart surgery.
Conditions Treated By a Cardiologist
There are a variety of cardiovascular problems that cardiologists diagnose, treat, and prevent. Here are some of the most common conditions cardiologists treat:
- Atrial Fibrillation This is also known as abnormal heart rhythm and happens when the blood flow from upper chambers to the bottom varies with each beat so that the heart has problems pumping blood efficiently to the rest of the body.
- Ventricular Fibrillation One of the most dangerous types of arrhythmia is ventricular fibrillation. It happens when the heart quivers instead of pumping blood, and the blood pressure plummets because the heart is not pumping blood adequately.
- Congenital heart disease Nearly 1% of all babies born in the U.S. have a heart defect at birth. Usually, a malformation in the structure of the heart is the cause and corrective measures are necessary to fix the issues.
- Coronary heart disease This condition is a major cause of illness and death. Coronary heart disease refers to a narrowing of the coronary arteries, which supply oxygen and blood to the heart. This disease commonly causes angina, shortness of breath, myocardial infarction and heart attacks.
- Congestive heart disease A chronic progressive condition that affects the ability of the heart to pump blood effectively. It is often referred to as “heart failure.” Congestive heart disease happens when the ventricles of the heart cannot pump enough blood to the body, eventually leading blood to fill up in the lungs, abdomen, liver and lower body.
- Hypertension or high blood pressure Nearly 1 in 3 American adults have high blood pressure. It is one of the most common cardiovascular conditions treated by cardiologists every day.
- High cholesterol Cholesterol is a wax-like substance found in blood. A certain amount of cholesterol is good because the body needs it to build healthy cells, but once those levels get too high, you are at an increased risk of heart disease.
- Pericarditis Pericarditis is the swelling and irritation of the pericardium, the thin membrane that forms a sac around the muscle of the heart. It can cause sharp, acute pain when the irritated portions of the pericardium run against each other.
Cardiologists treat all of these conditions through a variety of treatments including medications, lifestyle changes, weight loss recommendations, diet management, therapies, and more. In cases where damage is severe, they may refer patients to a heart surgeon for surgical procedures.
If you are interested in seeing a cardiologist, consider the experts at Intercoastal Medical Group. They have a team of qualified and experience cardiologists who can treat any cardiovascular issue you may have. Call us at your nearest location or request an appointment online today.
