What is a cardiologist?
A cardiologist is a doctor who’s an expert in heart and blood vessel diseases. They can treat heart diseases and help keep you from getting heart diseases.
After completing four years of medical school, cardiologists spend three years learning general internal medicine as a resident, plus at least three more years of specialized training after that.
After 10 years of training, a cardiologist can take an American Board of Internal Medicine exam. Even after achieving board certification, cardiologists keep learning for as long as they practice. They must keep up with the latest advances in how to treat patients to provide the best care.
What does a cardiologist do?
A cardiologist is a healthcare provider who can treat chest pain, high blood pressure and heart failure, as well as problems with your heart valves, blood vessels and other heart and vascular issues. They can order tests like electrocardiograms, echocardiograms and CTs (computed tomography) to find out what’s wrong. With their diagnosis, they can order medicine, help you start healthier exercise and eating habits or do cardiac catheterization.
A cardiologist will do a physical exam and discuss your symptoms, medical history and family history with you. It’s important to let your cardiologist know if other people in your family have had heart problems because that can increase the chances of you having a heart problem.
