Cardiology is a branch of medicine that deals with problems of the heart and the blood vessels.
Cardiologist
A Sydney City cardiologist is a medical doctor who has undergone extensive training, including four years of medical school followed by a 3-year stint in internal medicine. After training in internal medicine, a cardiologist obtains specialized training in cardiology for three or more years, at the end of which he/she can practice cardiology.
What Conditions does a Sydney City Cardiologist Treat?
A Sydney City cardiologist mainly works with adults. The bulk of the work consists of diagnosing and treating common cardiovascular conditions like heart attack, heart failure, and hypertension (increased blood pressure).
Other conditions that a cardiologist is trained to diagnose and treat are the following.
Arrhythmias
Irregular rhythms of the heart
Angina
Chest pain due to reduced blood flow to the heart
Diseases affecting blood vessels like atherosclerosis
Infections of the heart
Cardiomyopathy diseased heart muscle
Heart valve conditions
Congenital heart disease in adults — malformed heart (e.g., a hole in the heart)
What are the Different Types of Cardiologists?
While all cardiologists treat conditions of the heart, they do so in different ways. Non-invasive cardiologists diagnose and treat heart conditions with medicines and lifestyle modifications, or a combination of both.
Meanwhile, interventional cardiologists mainly work to open up blocked blood vessels in the body. They do this by placing stents or cutting out fatty material from the vessels (atherectomy).
Non-interventional cardiologists are just like non-invasive cardiologists. In addition to the usual work, they are trained to diagnose certain conditions by performing minor operations like cardiac catheterization to look for blocked vessels in the heart.
Finally, electrophysiology cardiologists specialize in treating bad heart rhythms using cardiac resynchronization devices and pacemakers.
When should you visit a cardiologist?
In normal circumstances, you won’t have to visit a cardiologist directly. During your annual physical checkup, your primary care doctor might order tests to measure your risk of developing heart disease. These tests include blood cholesterol, sugar, and pressure levels.
If your results on these tests correlate with a risk of heart disease, your doctor will refer you to a cardiologist.
What can you expect from a visit to a Sydney City Cardiologist?
Your consultation with a Sydney City cardiologist will begin with history and examination. The doctor will ask you some questions related to your symptoms and perform a quick physical analysis.
Your cardiologist might order some tests to confirm the diagnosis, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG).
Once your diagnosis has been established, the cardiologist will treat you by prescribing medications, recommending lifestyle changes, or performing a cardiac catheterization procedure.
Your cardiologist might also refer you to a heart surgeon or an interventional cardiologist if your diagnosis requires it.
