What is a cardiologist?
A cardiologist is a healthcare provider who diagnoses, treats, and manages heart and blood vessel illnesses, including coronary artery disease (CAD), heart failure, irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia), cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease (CHD), pericardial disease, heart valve disease. They train to conduct physical examinations and recommend blood tests, electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, and CT scans.
To become a cardiologist, aspirants must complete at least ten years of education, including four years of undergraduate studies, four years of graduate medical school, and a two-year residency in internal medicine. Those who complete cardiovascular training become accredited American College of Cardiology (FACC) fellows.
Cardiologists vs. cardiac surgeons
Cardiologists and cardiac surgeons have distinct areas of specialization. While both are medical doctors, they undergo different training paths.
A cardiologist's training focuses on the medical diagnosis and treatment of heart and cardiovascular conditions. They learn to manage heart disease through medications, lifestyle changes, and other non-surgical interventions. In contrast, cardiac surgeons receive additional specialized training in performing complex surgical procedures to treat heart problems. If you require heart surgery, the cardiac surgeon will be involved throughout the operation.
However, once you have recovered from the surgery, you typically will not need to continue following up with your surgeon. Instead, your cardiologist will take over the long-term management of your condition. The cardiologist will monitor your progress, adjust medications as needed, and help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.
What tests do cardiologists perform?
Cardiologists perform a series of tests to identify and address any underlying heart problems. Some of these include:
- Electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG) to measure the heart's electrical activity and detect rhythm abnormalities, enlargement, or prior heart attacks.
- Echocardiogram to assess the size, structure, and pumping function of the heart and its valves.
- Nuclear stress test to visualize blood flow to the heart during rest and exercise.
- Exercise stress test to monitor heart activity, blood pressure, and rhythm during physical activity.
- MRI to obtain detailed images of the cardiovascular system's structure and function.
- Cardiac catheterization measures the blood pressure and flow within the heart and surrounding vessels.
Through these comprehensive diagnostic tools, the provider can pinpoint the cause of the patient's cardiovascular concerns. It also enables them to develop a suitable treatment plan, whether it involves medication, lifestyle changes, or surgical intervention.
Heart diseases and their symptoms
Heart diseases are various disorders that affect the heart and may have varying symptoms depending on the disease. Following are some common heart diseases and their symptoms:
Coronary artery disease (coronary heart disease): It is the most prevalent heart disorder and affects the major blood vessels (arteries) that supply blood to the heart. Cholesterol deposits in the main artery near the heart are the leading cause of this disease. These deposits block the normal blood flow to the heart, causing a stroke, heart pain (angina), or attack.
Common symptoms of coronary heart disease include:
- Chest tightness, chest discomfort, chest pain
- Pain in the jaw, upper belly, back, throat, and neck
- Weakness, numbness, coldness, or pain in the limbs
The symptoms are also different for men and women; while women may experience extreme fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath, and chest discomfort, men may have chest pain. Regular preventive health checkups help detect heart conditions early and plan proactive treatment. It could prevent a heart attack or stroke.
Heart arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat): Common symptoms of irregular heartbeat include the following:
- Lightheadedness
- Bradycardia (slow heartbeat)
- Tachycardia (racing heartbeat)
- Dizziness
- Chest discomfort or pain
- Fainting
- A feeling of fluttering, fast beating, or a pounding heart
- Shortness of breath
Congenital heart defects: Congenital heart defects are severe conditions and are generally detected soon after childbirth. Common symptoms in children include the following:
- Pale blue or gray lips and skin
- Shortness of breath during feeding among infants
- Swelling in the belly, legs, or near the eyes
Symptoms of less severe congenital heart defects in children and adults include the
following:
- Getting tired quickly during outdoor activity or exercise
- Frequent shortness of breath during outdoor activity or exercise
- Swelling in feet, hands, or ankles
Cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disorder): Cardiomyopathy symptoms become noticeable only when the condition worsens. Its symptoms include the following:
- Fatigue
- Fainting, lightheadedness, dizziness
- Swollen feet, legs, or ankle
- Fluttering, pounding, or fast heartbeat
- Shortness of breath during sleep or waking up due to shortness of breath
- Shortness of breath, even when resting
Valvular heart disease (heart valve disorders): The human heart has four valves: mitral, aortic, tricuspid, and pulmonary, which help regulate blood flow. Many problems could damage these valves, causing them to become leaky, narrow, or close improperly. Depending on the affected valve, common symptoms may include the following:
- Fatigue
- Fainting
- Chest pain
- Swollen ankle
- Shortness of breath
- Irregular heartbeat
Endocarditis: Endocarditis is an infection impacting the inner lining of heart valves and chambers. Its symptoms include the following:
- Fever
- Changes in heartbeat
- Persistent dry cough
- Fatigue or weakness
- Swelling in the belly or legs
- Shortness of breath
- Unusual skin spots or skin rashes
As a rule of thumb, you must seek emergency medical care if you experience chest discomfort and pain, fainting, or shortness of breath.
How to prepare for your first cardiologist appointment?
If a primary care doctor has recommended you to consult a cardiologist near you, many overwhelming questions may run through your mind. How long will the first appointment last? What will the cardiologist ask you? What tests can you expect? What should you carry with you to the consultation?
Calling the cardiologist's office to clear your doubts and feel at ease is always good. If that is not possible for some reason, the following tips should help you prepare for the maiden visit:
- Remember that your appointment can last from around 40 minutes to an hour.
- Arrive 15-20 minutes early to the office to complete the necessary paperwork.
- Bring important documents such as your photo ID, insurance details, doctor's referrals, and medical records.
- Prepare answers for a few symptoms-related questions. When did your symptoms start? How often do they occur? What makes them better or worse? What medications or therapies have you tried in the past?
- Have detailed information about your other past and existing medical conditions, allergies, medications (prescription, over-the-counter, supplements), and previous surgeries.
- Know your family history of heart disease, early death, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, and diabetes.
- Expect questions about your lifestyle habits. Do you drink alcohol, smoke, or take drugs? What is your daily physical activity level? Are you currently stressed? What does your everyday diet look like?
- Be prepared for a head-to-toe physical examination and diagnostic tests, including blood tests, urinalysis, treadmill stress test, non-stress test, echo stress test, electrocardiogram, X-ray, CT scan, PET scan, MRI scan, and coronary angiogram.
- Put together your list of questions you wish to ask your cardiologist. Here are some examples: What are the warning signs of a heart attack? Who should I contact in case of an emergency? What is the best exercise plan for me? What foods should I eat and avoid? Can you suggest some effective stress management strategies? Should I see a mental health professional?
- Before leaving their office, ask about follow-up appointments.
Five ways to maintain a healthy heart
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has highlighted the importance of heart health by establishing February as American Heart Month to educate the public about heart disease and stroke. Here are some effective lifestyle changes to improve and maintain a healthy heart.
Quit vaping/smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol in excessive quantities: Smoking increases plaque formation in the arteries, leading to their blockage. At the same time, heavy drinking can give rise to high blood pressure and weaken the heart muscles. Cut down on cigarettes by reducing the number of cigarettes smoked daily or smoking only a part of the same cigarette. It should help you stop smoking cigarettes entirely eventually. If you have trouble quitting, speak to a physician who can recommend medication or other ways to curb the habit.
Increase physical activity: As per the American Heart Association, adults must do 150 minutes (or 2.5 hours) of mild physical activity or 75 minutes of robust aerobic activity per week to achieve the desired optimal heart health. It also recommends muscle-strengthening exercises for two days a week and 300 minutes of weekly physical activity. Incorporate activities such as walking, running, water aerobics, dancing, and cycling into your daily routine to get the necessary exercise.
Include heart-healthy foods in your diet: A balanced diet is necessary for maintaining your heart health. Dark green leafy veggies like kale, collard greens, and spinach are vitamin K sources that protect the arteries. Unlike refined carbohydrates, whole grains such as oats, whole wheat, and brown rice reduce the risks of heart disease and hypertension. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends cutting saturated fats such as butter and red meats down to 7% to reduce the risk of heart problems.
Lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels: Foods such as okra, eggplants, beans, grains, and oats help reduce Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (also known as "bad cholesterol"), which causes buildup in the arteries. Limit the amount of LDL cholesterol to 200mg or less by avoiding excessive dairy products and meats. Managing weight and stress can also help prevent high blood pressure.
Find ways to manage stress: Stressors such as work issues, aggression, illness, grieving the loss of a relative or friend, anxiety, depression, and divorce have been linked to increased blood pressure, leading to heart disease. You can manage stress by finding a stimulating hobby, adopting a pet, getting enough sleep every night, or practicing relaxation techniques like meditation and listening to music. Contact your physician or a psychologist if you cannot manage your stress alone.
Impact of COVID-19 on heart health
COVID-19 is a virus that causes inflammation and fills the air sacs in the lungs with fluid, leading to less oxygen reaching the bloodstream, and, in turn, the heart works harder to pump blood. It could prove to be dangerous to those with pre-existing heart conditions. The virus can also directly affect heart tissue and the inner surfaces of the blood vessels, damaging veins and arteries and compromising blood flow to the heart or other parts of the body. While responding to inflammation, the body can release cytokines (proteins), which can cause ventricular arrhythmias and make it difficult to survive.
While COVID-19 typically infects the lungs, it can also affect other organs. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children and adults with heart disease or associated medical conditions like diabetes have a higher risk of COVID-19 affecting them badly. Some people also experience long-term effects of COVID-19 for over four weeks after getting it, i.e., they endure a variety of new, returning, or ongoing symptoms even after recovering. It is called a post-COVID-19 syndrome. People with previous severe illnesses like heart disease and diabetes who got hospitalized during COVID are more likely to suffer from post-COVID-19 syndrome.
How do you find top-rated cardiologists near you in Houston, TX?
Your heart pumps blood for your whole body and provides oxygen and nutrients. Any cardiovascular disease (either due to family history or poor lifestyle choices), if left undiagnosed or untreated, can lead to permanent heart damage and increased risk of heart failure and death. Therefore, you should consider seeing a heart doctor if you experience chest pain (angina), pain in the left arm, neck, jaw, or back, shortness of breath, inability to perform mild physical activity, or fatigue.
However, finding the right cardiologist can be challenging. Zocdoc helps provide a fast, secure, and straightforward way to find healthcare professionals in your area from the comfort of your home. If you reside in Houston, Texas, and wish to speak to an expert cardiologist urgently, you can visit the Zocdoc website to book an online consultation or in-person visit. Enter basic details like your condition, location, and insurance carrier plan. Your search results should display a list of top-rated cardiologists in your area. You can filter these results by gender, hospital affiliation, distance, and spoken language.
You can link multiple insurance plans to your Zocdoc account, but you can only book an appointment with one plan at a time. You can provide information about any additional insurance you have during the booking process or on the provider's intake forms. Visit Zocdoc's patient help center for queries on insurance.
Zocdoc helps make an informed choice by providing access to each doctor's medical background, training, and certifications. You can also choose a cardiologist near you based on available time slots, verified patient reviews, and ratings. To check if your selected provider accepts your insurance, enter your insurance plan in the drop-down menu at the top of the page. The results should automatically display a list of providers that accept your insurance.
At Zocdoc, all bookings are easy, secure, and free!
Relevant statistics on heart disease and its risk factors in Houston, TX
As per a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics study, approximately 690 cardiologists were working in Texas as of May 2022. As per the reports published by the Texas Department of State Health Services, heart attack and stroke are the number one and number 3 causes of death in Texas.
American Heart Association states that 45,346 people died in Texas due to heart disease in 2017. Ten thousand seven hundred ninety people died of stroke in the same year. The data also highlights the numbers in Texas related to lifestyle choices. Around 15.1% of the total population are smokers, and close to 69.4% of the total population falls in the obese group.
Sources
Cleveland Clinic
American Heart Association[1]
Healthline[1]
Healthline[2]
MedlinePlus
National Institutes of Health
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Mayo Clinic
Mass General Brigham
Orlando Health
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
American Heart Association[2]
Texas Department of State Health Services
Luminis Health
Trinity Medical WNY
