Introduction
When it comes to taking care of your heart, you need to know what you’re getting into. Simply put, cardiology is the study of the heart and its health. That’s why it’s important that you know as much about this important body part as possible. In this guide, Dr. Dennis Doan will cover everything from how cardiology works to why it’s so important for our overall well-being. We’ll also discuss common types of cardiologists and their roles so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not seeing one is necessary for your personal situation.
Cardiology is the study of the heart. It is an important field of medicine that deals with diseases of the heart and blood vessels. The heart is the most important organ in your body, so it’s vital that you know how to take care of yours!
What Is Cardiology?
Cardiology is the branch of medicine that focuses on diagnosing and treating heart problems. Cardiologists are medical doctors who specialize in cardiology, but they also have other specialties such as pediatrics or internal medicine.
Cardiology can be broken down into several different areas: electrophysiology (the study of electrical impulses), echocardiography (an ultrasound test used to evaluate heart function), cardiac MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), interventional catheterization and nuclear medicine studies using radioactive tracers injected directly into blood vessels near your heart muscle so that we can see how well each part is working during exercise stress tests or stress echocardiograms performed at our center’s Heart & Vascular Institute located within Banner Estrella Medical Center Scottsdale hospital campus.
Most people know what their general practitioner does when it comes time for an annual physical exam; however many don’t realize just how important it is for them to schedule regular checkups with their cardiologist until something goes wrong.
Why Is Cardiology Important?
Cardiology is the study of the heart, and it’s important to understand how this vital organ works. The heart is a muscle that pumps blood throughout your body. It has a complex system of blood vessels, valves and chambers that work together to keep you alive.
The leading cause of death in America today is cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis), stroke and peripheral vascular disease (narrowing of arteries). CVD affects nearly 30 million Americans every year–that’s 1 out 3 people!
If you have questions about cardiology or want help managing your risk factors for CVD: call 1-800-DOCTORS or visit our website at www
How to Know If You Need to See a Cardiologist
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, it’s important to seek out a cardiologist:
- Chest pain, shortness of breath and palpitations are common symptoms of heart disease.
- Heart murmurs (abnormal sounds) can be detected by listening with a stethoscope during an exam or ultrasound. They may also be heard when you take deep breaths while lying down, cough or exercise vigorously. If you have an irregular heartbeat that causes your pulse to speed up or slow down without warning, this could indicate atrial fibrillation–a type of arrhythmia that increases your risk for stroke and heart failure.* Fatigue and fainting spells are other signs that something might be wrong with your heart health
Common Types of Cardiologists and Their Roles
Cardiologists are medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating heart problems. They can be generalists or specialists, depending on their area of expertise. Generalists include cardiologists who treat all types of cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary artery disease or arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms). Specialists include electrophysiologists (EPs), interventional cardiologists and pediatric cardiologists.
Cardiology subspecialties include:
- Cardiac electrophysiology – EPs diagnose abnormal electrical activity within your heart’s muscles, which may cause irregular heartbeats that lead to symptoms like palpitations (a feeling that your heart is racing) or fainting spells; they also perform procedures such as ablations (surgery that uses heat energy) to correct these problems so they don’t recur
- Interventional cardiology – ICs use catheters inserted into blood vessels at strategic points throughout the body to open blocked arteries without surgery by injecting medications directly into them; this helps reduce long-term risks associated with traditional bypass surgeries
- Pediatric cardiology – PCPs specialize in treating children with congenital defects such as Tetralogy of Fallot where oxygen cannot flow properly through blood vessels leading off from the right ventricle due to abnormal connections between two chambers called shunts
Takeaway : Your heart is an incredibly important part of your body. You need to take care of it.
You now know a lot about the heart, but don’t forget to take care of it! Your heart is an incredibly important part of your body. You need to take care of it by eating healthy food, exercising regularly and seeing a cardiologist if you have any symptoms or concerns about your heart health.
Cardiology is the study of diseases that affect the structure and function of the cardiovascular system (heart). Cardiologists are doctors who specialize in treating diseases affecting this system–they can help diagnose problems with your heart before they become serious issues. Heart disease is one of America’s leading causes of death; however, many cases are preventable through lifestyle changes such as eating healthy foods and exercising regularly (see “Takeaway” section above).
Conclusion
Now that you know what cardiology is and how to recognize it, it’s time to get your heart checked out! If you feel like there may be something wrong with your heart, then don’t hesitate: make an appointment with a cardiologist today. They will be able to tell whether or not there are any issues with your heart health as well as provide treatment options if necessary.
