What is the cardiovascular system?
The cardiovascular system includes your blood, heart, and blood vessels. Blood vessels transfer blood from the heart to the lungs to receive oxygen and then deliver oxygenated blood throughout the body via arteries. After this, the veins carry oxygen-poor blood back to the heart, and the process repeats.
The body comprises two blood circulatory systems: systemic and pulmonary. The systemic circulatory system is the primary blood circulatory system because it delivers blood to the body's tissues, organs, and cells. On the other hand, the pulmonary circulatory system transports blood between the lungs and the heart. This is how oxygen enters the blood, and carbon dioxide exits it.
Healthy vital organs and an excellent cardiovascular system can boost one's life significantly. However, due to a poor lifestyle, poor nutrition, stress, etc., people face cardiovascular issues such as heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure and need to see a cardiologist.
Who are cardiologists?
Cardiologists are medical professionals who specialize in cardiology. They diagnose and treat heart and cardiovascular problems. Cardiologists must complete a four-year undergraduate science program and four years of medical school. They must also complete two or three years of internal medicine or cardiology training and three years of specialization. To practice as a cardiologist in the United States, they must pass a test administered by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Types of cardiologists
Cardiology is a diverse field, and cardiologists can pursue different areas of specialization. Some of the specialists in cardiology include:
- Cardiac imaging specialist: These specialists use imaging to help diagnose, evaluate, and treat the heart.
- Electrophysiologists: They identify and treat arrhythmias.
- Adult congenital heart specialists: They offer lifelong care for those who have ever been diagnosed with an issue with the heart's structure that developed before they were born.
- Interventional cardiologists diagnose and treat heart conditions with noninvasive, catheter-based procedures that require inserting a flexible, thin tube through a tiny cut in the skin and into the blood vessels to reach the heart.
- Cardiac rehabilitation specialists offer a medically monitored, individualized program that combines education and exercise to enhance cardiovascular health.
- Heart surgeons perform routine and complex surgeries, saving lives and improving quality of life.
- Cardio-oncologists help cancer patients by identifying, observing, and treating heart disease caused by cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy.
- Pediatric cardiologists: They specialize in detecting and treating heart problems in children, including fetuses, infants, adolescents, and young adults.
- Heart failure specialists evaluate a patient's heart failure status to establish a baseline and then build a long-term treatment plan to enhance the individual's condition while offering the best possible standard of life.
- Advanced heart failure specialists: They plan the transplantation of a new heart to substitute for one that has been impaired or is otherwise failing.
What is the FACC?
The FACC, or Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, is an organization of cardiologists and other healthcare experts committed to studying and treating cardiovascular disease. FACC has approximately 23,000 members. Cardiologists should complete their training and dedicate at least three-quarters of their work time to heart research. The American College of Cardiology Physicians Fellowship is the most prestigious and well-known title in cardiovascular care. You can enlist at various levels, ranging from fellow to affiliate. Most FACC members include pediatric and adult cardiologists, cardiac scientists, and cardiac surgeons.
What instruments do cardiologists use?
Cardiologists may use instruments like:
- Catheter: A plastic tube-like instrument is introduced at the top of your blood vessel to allow an X-ray dye to pass through it, revealing any clots in the artery.
- Guidewire: A medical device used to construct balloons or stents. Guidewires assist interventional cardiologists in guiding other devices into the correct or preferred place.
- Balloons: Cardiologists use angioplasty balloons and air-filled devices in conjunction with catheters. The device repeatedly inflates and deflates to thrust the clog and improve circulation in the artery.
- Vascular closure systems: These devices shut the puncture caused by catheter insertion in the artery.
When should you see a cardiologist near you?
The symptoms listed below may indicate cardiac diseases and necessitate medical attention right away:
- Inflammation or tightness of the chest (angina)
- Shortness of breath
- Injuries to the neck, mouth, upper abdomen, or back on the left side of the body
- Nausea
- Panic attacks
- Extreme fatigue
What tests can a patient expect when visiting a pediatric cardiologist?
Cardiology tests are painless and allow the doctor to understand your medical condition better. While taking your kids to a pediatric cardiologist, learning what tests they might undergo is essential. Here are some cardiology tests the cardiologist near you might suggest on your first visit:
The echocardiogram, often known as an echo, is a painless and safe procedure that enables the physician to evaluate the function and structure of the heart. Cardiologists use this test to evaluate heart problems in children of all ages, including newborns and fetuses. An echo is a cardiac ultrasound or sound wave test.
The electrocardiogram (EKG) is a standard heart test that enables medical professionals to view the heart's electrical activity, identify cardiac rhythms, and potentially detect enlargement of the heart chambers. The test typically lasts five to ten minutes, and parents may stay in the room with their child.
A chest X-ray gives medical professionals an image of the heart, lungs, and bones. Doctors can gather helpful information through chest X-rays, such as the size of the heart, that might help in a better diagnosis. A chest X-ray takes around ten to fifteen minutes. The child may be standing or lying with the X-ray machine above them to get a clear image. To help protect them from radiation, children must wear aprons during this test. Due to the radiation exposure, the technicians instructed the parents to remain outside the X-ray room.
The cardiologist performs the stress test using a treadmill or bicycle. Patients ride a bike or walk while wearing an EKG monitor and a mask over their mouth, which helps track their oxygen intake. The doctor might also ask the patient to put on a small clamp over their nose to assess their oxygen intake better. Stress tests can also evaluate a patient's heart rate, blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and fitness level.
The patient takes home a portable EKG monitor, also called a Holter monitor, which is connected to them. It enables medical professionals to examine the heart for a full day. Cardiologists advise patients to keep a diary while wearing a holter monitor so they may track their activities hour by hour.
What are the heart disease risk factors?
The following are some health conditions that increase the risk of heart disease.
High blood pressure is a medical ailment that occurs when the blood pressure or blood flow rate in the blood vessels and arteries is very high. If untreated, high pressure could affect the heart and other organs, like the brain and kidneys. High blood pressure doesn't show any symptoms; the only way to diagnose it is by measuring it. Lifestyle changes and medications can help lower blood pressure and decrease the chance of heart disease.
Cholesterol is a wax-like fatty substance secreted by the liver and found in certain foods. The liver secretes the required quantity of cholesterol necessary for the body. However, eating greasy, oily, or processed foods further adds to the body's cholesterol levels. The extra cholesterol accumulates on the arteries' inner walls near the heart. Thus, the arteries become narrow, decreasing the blood flow to the brain, heart, kidneys, and other critical bodily organs and increasing the risk of a heart attack.
Glucose, or sugar, is an energy source for the body. The pancreas secretes the insulin hormone, transporting glucose from food to different body parts. When the pancreas fails to produce ample insulin, sugar levels in the blood rise. Over time, this can cause diabetes, leading to heart disease or even heart failure.
Obesity is the presence of excess fatty deposits in the body. It is often linked to high cholesterol levels and can even cause high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. A healthy diet of fresh fruits, leafy green vegetables, and regular exercise can help reduce weight and decrease the chances of heart disease.
Find cardiologists near you in Austin, TX
If you live in Austin, Texas, and want to seek advice from a cardiologist in your area, Zocdoc can help you do so in a few minutes.
Zocdoc allows users to book online consultations or in-person visits with medical practitioners in their area quickly and securely. On the Zocdoc website, enter your condition, location, and insurance plan. You will find a list of highly-rated cardiologists in your area.
If you want to know your insurance plan, upload an image of your insurance card to your Zocdoc account, and we will find and display information regarding your insurance plan (this facility is not available for vision or dental plans). You can even contact the Zocdoc service team if you need help uploading a photo of your card. You can also check out Zocdoc's patient help center for more information and solutions related to insurance.
You can filter the searches by time, sex, proximity, and doctor's office affiliation. Booking appointments at a clinic can be time-consuming and may disrupt your day's plans. With Zocdoc, you can book appointments at your convenience, depending on the availability of your preferred provider.
Zocdoc also offers each specialist's medical background, training, and certifications to help you make the best possible decision and receive the best care. You may choose your schedule from the drop-down menu at the top of the page, and you can also see your provider's ratings and patient reviews.
All bookings on Zocdoc are quick, secure, and free.
Statistics on heart diseases in Austin, Texas
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, in May 2021, Texas employed approximately 1,080 cardiologists, ranking fifth in the country. Lifestyle and health conditions like poor diet, high cholesterol, obesity, smoking, and high blood pressure can increase the risk of heart disorders, and patients should monitor them constantly.
Almost 35% of Texans have high blood pressure and cholesterol. According to 2020 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), nearly 35.7% of Texans over 18 are obese. Approximately 43% of this obese population does not engage in leisure physical activity, around 54.1% have diabetes, and nearly 45.6% have cardiovascular disease.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the cardiovascular disease death rate per 100,000 adults over 35 in Austin is around 392. Heart disease was the critical cause of death in Texas in 2017, followed by melanoma and stroke. In Texas, heart attack and stroke account for almost three out of every ten deaths.
The Texas Department of State Health Services hopes to reinforce healthy behavior in the population by 2023 to enhance heart health and quality care. Some goals involve ramping up the percentage of children who fulfill the 2008 guidelines for physical activity for Americans from nearly 42.9% to 45%, lowering the rate of adult smoking, and boosting the number of adults who eat an adequate amount of healthy fruits and vegetables per day from around 23.3% to 24.5%.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also highlighted the importance of heart health, establishing February as American Heart Month to educate the public about heart disease and stroke.
Sources
Top Master in Healthcare
Baptist Medical Network
University of Rochester Medical Center
American College of Cardiology
Texas Department of State Health Services[1]
Texas Department of State Health Services[2]
Texas Department of State Health Services[3]
America's Health Rankings
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[2]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[3]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[4]
Texas Children's Hospital
YaleMedicine
