The heart and blood vessels work together to move oxygen-rich blood to every organ and tissue in the body. When this system does not function as expected, people may notice certain symptoms. This can include chest discomfort, shortness of breath, an irregular heartbeat, dizziness, or swelling in the legs and ankles. Cardiology care includes assessment and long-term monitoring of the cardiovascular system. Understanding how this specialty works helps you know what to expect during a visit, and you can learn how specialists gather information about heart and vascular health.
What Is Cardiology Care?
Cardiology is a branch of medicine, and it is focused on the heart and the network of arteries and veins that carry blood throughout the body. Cardiologists evaluate and manage conditions that affect the heart muscle, as well as those that impact blood vessels. Some conditions include high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, valve disorders, and peripheral artery disease.
People arrive at cardiology care through different paths. Some are referred after a routine exam reveals an abnormal finding, and others seek care after experiencing new symptoms. Individuals with a family history of related conditions, like heart disease or diabetes, may also visit a cardiologist for risk assessment.
How Are Issues Identified?
The diagnostic process typically begins with a review of your health history. The cardiologist can listen to the heart and lungs, measure blood pressure and pulse, and check for swelling or changes in circulation. Based on these findings, one or more tests may be recommended. There are several common diagnostic tools that can be used, and these include:
- Echocardiogram: This ultrasound uses sound waves to produce moving images of the heart’s chambers and valves.
- Stress Testing: Heart activity is recorded while a person walks on a treadmill or receives medication that increases the heart rate.
- Monitors: Holter monitors track heart rhythm over a period of days or weeks during normal daily activities.
- Blood Tests: Laboratory work can measure cholesterol, blood sugar, and other markers related to heart health.
- Catheterization: A thin, flexible tube is guided through a blood vessel to the heart, where contrast dye helps reveal blockages or narrowing in the arteries.
The cardiologist reviews these results together to develop a clear picture of how the heart and blood vessels are functioning.
What Services Do They Offer?
Cardiology practices provide a range of services that address prevention, diagnosis, and ongoing management. These services can be coordinated with a patient’s primary care provider and other specialists, which allows information to be shared across the care team. Specific offerings vary by practice, but many include:
- Preventive Care: Risk assessments and guidance on blood pressure and cholesterol.
- Prescribed Medication: Prescribing and adjusting medications that may help manage blood pressure or cholesterol levels.
- Interventional Procedures: Catheter-based treatments, including angioplasty and stent placement, used to open narrowed arteries.
- Vascular Care: Imaging and treatment planning for conditions that affect arteries and veins outside the heart.
- Cardiac Rehabilitation: Supervised programs that combine monitored exercise and lifestyle guidance after a cardiac event or procedure.
Follow-up visits and periodic testing to track changes over time and update treatment plans as needed.
Meet With a Cardiologist
Treatment plans may be adjusted as test results, symptoms, and overall health change over time. If you have noticed changes in how you feel, have a family history of heart disease, or have been referred by your primary care provider, a cardiologist can evaluate your symptoms and recommend appropriate next steps. Contact a cardiology practice to book an appointment; this allows you to take steps toward learning more about your heart health.
