Cardiologist – what does he do? How to prepare for a visit to a cardiologist?

A cardiologist is a specialist in the field of heart and circulatory system diseases, to whom our family doctor can refer us. The first visit to a cardiologist is usually the beginning of a longer cooperation – so that the cardiologist and the treatment methods he proposes can help us, we should usually remain under his constant supervision. What exactly does a cardiologist do and what diseases does he treat? What does a visit to a cardiologist look like and how should you prepare for it?

Cardiologist – what does he do?

A cardiologist is a specialist who deals with diagnosis and treatment of diseases and heart defects (both congenital and acquired) as well cardiovascular system. Due to the fact that problems with the functioning of the cardiovascular system and the diseases resulting from them are today the most common cause of death in highly developed countries, cardiology has gained in importance in recent decades. The most important subspecialties of cardiology are:

1. non-invasive cardiology – focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases using methods that do not interfere with the body’s structures, such as ECG, scintigraphy or echocardiography (echo of the heart);
2. invasive cardiology or interventional – it enables the treatment of heart diseases by non-medical methods, without opening the chest, usually with the use of two methods based on a vascular catheter: cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography (angiocardiography);
3. cardiosurgery – deals with the treatment of heart diseases that require surgical intervention, carrying out procedures and operations, such as inserting and replacing valves and pacemakers, implanting bypass or heart transplants.

The most important tasks faced by a cardiologist in his work include:

1. diagnosis of acquired and congenital diseases of the heart, aorta and smaller blood vessels;
2. choosing the right treatment methods and monitoring patients who are struggling with cardiological complaints;
3. conducting research in the field of invasive and non-invasive cardiology;
4. in life-threatening conditions of the patient – basic intensive care.

Also read: Polish cardiac surgery at the forefront

Cardiologist – what diseases does he treat?

The catalog of cardiovascular diseases is quite extensive today. However, most often people who struggle with the following diseases remain under the care of a cardiologist:

1. ischemic heart disease, otherwise known as coronary artery disease;
2. atherosclerosis (arteriosclerosis);
3. hypertension;
4. myocarditis and heart failure;
5. myocardial infarction (usually a consequence of untreated coronary heart disease);
6. arrhythmias, which are disturbances in the rhythm of the heart when the heart beats too slowly (bradycardia), too fast (tachycardia) or irregularly (atrial and ventricular fibrillation);
7. angina pectoris (angina pectoris);
8. heart defects such as, for example, Fallot’s syndrome, mitral regurgitation or stenosis, aortic regurgitation or stenosis.

Most of these diseases are chronic in nature, hence it is necessary for them permanent cardiological treatment – above all, regular medication and regular check-ups with a cardiologist.

Find out more: Heart disease is killing most of the time. Why?

Visit to a cardiologist – indications

Cardiological diseases are often serious problems which, if left unresponsive, can pose a serious threat to health and life. So what counts is quick action: if we observe ourselves or our loved ones alarming symptoms, do not delay contacting a specialist. A visit to a cardiologist is necessary if symptoms such as:

1. recurring pain, burning or tightness in the chest;
2. repeated sensation of flushing of blood to the head;
3. fainting and fainting;
4. significant decline in form and poor physical performance;
5. shortness of breath (also after exercise, if the intensity seems worrying);
6. perceptible changes in heart rhythm;
7. swelling of the face and limbs;
8. shortness of breath.

Doctors, however, point out that in many cases patients come to the cardiologist too late, when the ailments are so advanced that they significantly impede their normal functioning.

The first cardiological consultation is worth having a prophylactic earlier – already at the age of about 30 – so that it is possible to identify any abnormalities early and implement some lifestyle changes that will prevent the development of serious diseases. This is especially true for people who are in the group of increased risk of cardiac diseases – due to other comorbidities, genetic predisposition or lifestyle.

Read more: Heart diseases. What symptoms are worrying?

A visit to a cardiologist – how to prepare for it?

The first visit to a cardiologist can seem a bit stressful, especially since a cardiologist needs a lot of detailed information to make a correct diagnosis. However, the meticulousness and a large number of questions during such a medical interview should be treated as an advantage – the more a cardiologist learns about our symptoms, family history or lifestyle, the more effectively he will be able to react. What can a cardiologist ask during the first conversation and what is worth saying even if a specific question about this issue is not asked?

1. any symptoms that seem worrying to us – both those “cardiac” and those seemingly unrelated to the cardiovascular system (eg low mood, fatigue, frequent headaches);
2. previous serious diseases and chronic diseases that we struggle with, as well as the medications we take – it is worth making a list of preparations and doses in which we take them and show them to the doctor during the visit;
3. previous procedures and operations;
4. a history of cardiovascular diseases in our family;
5. lifestyle we lead – daily diet, amount of exercise, sex life, stimulants and the frequency with which we use them, the amount of stress and its most common causes;
6. significant life changes that we have experienced recently and could have caused a lot of stress (e.g. changing jobs, moving house).

Honesty is extremely important during a visit to a cardiologist – both the first and each subsequent one. You shouldn’t hide anything nor be embarrassed during the conversation with the doctor: every fact, even those irrelevant from our point of view, may be important for the correct diagnosis, and thus – for the correct selection of treatment methods.

A visit to a cardiologist – what to take with you?

In order for the visit to the cardiologist to give the specialist a complete picture of our health condition, it is worth having with you current medical documentation – the more extensive it is, the better. If it is possible, it is best to take the following documents with the first visit to the cardiologist:

1. current and previous cardiological tests, e.g. ECG or exercise tests – by comparing their results, the cardiologist will gain a broader picture of our cardiovascular complaints;
2. results of all tests recently ordered by specialists under our care, eg abdominal ultrasound, chest X-ray, spirometry;
3. detailed documentation of the course and treatment of chronic diseases we struggle with;
4. a list of medications taken with their doses (including over-the-counter medications);
5. if the patient was hospitalized – discharge from the hospital;
6. documents confirming stays in the sanatorium and the program of treatments performed there.

It would also be ideal to do it immediately before visiting the cardiologist basic research set, including:

1. blood count;
2. urine analysis;
3. sugar level;
4. lipidogram.

We can get a referral for such tests from the family doctor who recommended an appointment with a cardiologist.

Cardiologist – what tests can he order?

In order to confirm or exclude a possible diagnosis resulting from the analysis of the patient’s current data and the medical interview conducted during the first visit, the cardiologist will probably order us performing additional cardiological tests. Most often, these are tests such as:

1. ECG, that is, electrocardiography. This recording of the electrical activity of the heart recorded with electrodes attached to the skin of the chest. The test allows you to assess the rhythm and frequency of the heart, and to detect damage to the heart muscle in people who have had or are just having a heart attack. The size of the ventricles can also be assessed on the basis of the ECG recording.
2. Exercise test, i.e. an ECG exercise test. This is the most common monitored treadmill walkingthat allows you to gauge changes in your heart during exercise.
3. Holter ECG method, i.e. Holter examination. This XNUMX-hour ECG examinationperformed with a small apparatus attached to the belt at the patient’s waist. There are 5 electrodes attached to the left breast of the device. The device, thanks to electrodes, registers the activity of the heart in various everyday situations and allows for the detection of changes in the heart’s rhythm throughout the day. The examination is complemented by an hourly examination diary kept by the patient, in which the events, activities and symptoms occurring during the day are recorded in detail.
4. Pressure recorder. This test is analogous to the Holter ECG method, which relies on XNUMX/XNUMX blood pressure measurement and changes taking place in it.
5. The echo of the heart (echocardiography). This is the study by which using ultrasonic waves the structure of the heart and large blood vessels can be assessed. The examination is performed on an outpatient basis, without any special preparation.
6. Chest X-ray. X-ray of the heart area allows you to assess whether there have been any disturbing changes in the chest area.
7. Radioisotope SPECT test (perfusion scintigraphy). This imaging examination using small doses of radioactive isotopeswhich allows for a precise assessment of the blood supply to the heart muscle.

If necessary, other tests may also be ordered, such as 32- or 64-order spiral tomography, MRI resonance imaging or a tilt test.

Cardiologist – the most common treatments and methods of treatment

Treatment of cardiovascular complaints can have many faces and depends on the specific diseases and their severity, as well as on the individual predispositions of the patient. It turns out extremely important strict adherence to the recommendations of the cardiologist – especially introducing certain changes in your lifestyle – as well as systematic use of medications and attending check-ups (every 3-4 months, unless otherwise instructed by your doctor).

Sometimes, however, it may be necessary to undergo a cardiac surgery or surgery to restore the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system. Down the most frequently performed cardiological procedures include, among others:

1. cardioversion – a procedure involving the patient’s body with electrodes and triggering an electrical impulse to restore normal heart rhythm, used in patients with atrial fibrillation and with ventricular and supraventricular tachycardia;
2. coronary angioplasty, or ballooning – a procedure used in ischemic heart disease, which consists in widening the narrowed arteries with special balloons;
3. RF ablation – a method of treating cardiac arrhythmias by puncturing the femoral artery or vein and placing an electrode that restores the correct heart rhythm;
4. pacemaker implantation – this is a procedure performed under local anesthesia, during which a small pocket in the skin on the chest is implanted with small, decorated, stimulating heartbeats;
5. rotablation – a procedure used in patients with atherosclerosis to shear atherosclerotic plaques;
6. by-pass implantation – an open-heart surgery performed under general anesthesia, which is to allow blood to flow from the aorta to the narrowed coronary arteries thanks to the creation of a kind of “bypass” formed from the veins previously obtained from the patient’s calf.

Also check: Cardiological diseases during the pandemic. How to take care of your heart without leaving home?

Content from the site medTvoiLokony they are intended to improve, not replace, the contact between the Website User and his doctor. The website is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Before following the specialist knowledge, in particular medical advice, contained on our Website, you must consult a doctor. The Administrator does not bear any consequences resulting from the use of information contained on the Website. Do you need a medical consultation or an e-prescription? Go to halodoctor.pl, where you will get online help – quickly, safely and without leaving your home.Now you can use e-consultation also free of charge under the National Health Fund.