Cardiology: Introducing Cardiology and the schooling of Cardiologists
By: Shania Ali
To introduce the concept of Cardiology, cardiology is the branch of medicine that deals with diseases and abnormalities of the heart. It’s the study and treatment of disorders of the heart and blood vessels. A cardiologist specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases of the cardiovascular system. Their role is essentially to carry out tests and perform heart procedures like, angioplasty, heart catheterizations, and inserting a pacemaker. They carry out procedures such as angioplasties, stenting, valvuloplasties, and coronary thrombectomies.
The process to become a cardiologist usually takes 10-17 years following high school to complete and includes:
- 4 years of undergrad at a university and earn a bachelor’s degree
- Applying to medical school and earning an MD
- 3 years in an internal medicine residency program
- 3 or more years in an fellowship program for advanced training
- Earn a board certification
Some heart diseases a cardiologist could treat are:
- Hypertension
- Arrhythmias
- Atrial fibrillation
- Atherosclerosis
- Coronary heart disease
- Ventricular tachycardia
Some reasons to see a cardiologist include:
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Can lead to heart disease or unstable blood pressure
- Fainting spells
- Caused by low blood flow to the brain
- Chest pains
- Aka angina, occurs when the heart doesn’t get enough oxygen
- Fluttering sensation in the chest
- Palpitations (fast beats)
- Erratic thumping in the chest
What do Cardiologists Treat?
By: Manisha Asrani
Cardiologists specialize in studying and treating cardiovascular system disorders including the heart, arteries, and veins. This article will go over some specific conditions they can diagnose, treat, and prevent.
To start, cardiologists perform tests and procedures, such as heart catheterizations and placement of pacemakers. While cardiologists can do many things related to the cardiovascular system, they do not perform heart surgeries. Cardiologists take care of patients’ needs up until they need heart surgery.
One of the most common conditions cardiologists treat is atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is also known as abnormal heart rhythm. It happens when the blood flow from the upper chambers to the bottom varies with each beat, causing the heart to have problems pumping blood efficiently to the rest of the body. Another condition is congenital heart disease. Nearly 1% of all babies born in the U.S. have a heart defect at birth. Usually, a malformation in the heart structure is the cause, and corrective measures are necessary to fix the issues. Some other conditions are hypertension, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Nearly 1 in 3 American adults have high blood pressure. It is one of the most common cardiovascular conditions treated by cardiologists every day. Cholesterol is a wax-like substance found in the blood. A certain amount of cholesterol is good because the body needs it to build healthy cells. However, when those levels get too high, you are at an increased risk of heart disease.
If a person has symptoms of a heart condition, their physician may refer them to a cardiologist. Signs that can indicate a heart problem include shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pains, changes in heart rate or rhythm, high blood pressure, and more. A cardiologist can carry out tests for a heart murmur or an abnormal heart rhythm. They often treat patients who have had a heart attack, heart failure, or other heart problems. They help make decisions about heart surgery, heart catheterization, and angioplasty, and stenting. A person may need to see a cardiologist even without symptoms if they have a family history of heart disease or high cholesterol, if they are a smoker, have diabetes, or start a new exercise program.
Overall, cardiologists overview a variety of conditions, which make cardiology a very versatile field of medicine.
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