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On average, patients who use Zocdoc can search for a Cardiologist in Houston, book an appointment, and see the Cardiologist within 24 hours. Same-day appointments are often available, you can search for real-time availability of Cardiologists in Houston who accept your insurance and make an appointment online.
Zocdoc lets you search specifically for a Houston Cardiologist who takes your insurance. Just choose your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. If you’re not sure which plan you have, you can use Zocdoc’s insurance checker to find out.
Zocdoc is a free online service that helps patients find Cardiologists in Houston and book appointments instantly. You can search for Houston Cardiologists by symptom or visit reason. Then, choose your insurance plan. Based on that information, you’ll see a list of providers who meet your search criteria, along with their available appointment slots.
When you search for Houston Cardiologists on Zocdoc, you can filter your results by gender, in addition to other criteria. That way, you’ll only see Cardiologists in Houston who match your preferences.
On Zocdoc, you can search specifically for Houston Cardiologists with availability after 5 p.m.
You can use Zocdoc to find Cardiologists in Houston who are highly rated by other patients. These ratings are based on verified reviews submitted by real patients. Every time a patient completes an appointment booked on Zocdoc, they’re invited to review their experience. Each review must comply with Zocdoc’s guidelines.
Cardiologists in Houston on Zocdoc who see patients through online video visits will have a purple video icon on their profiles. You can also filter your search results to show only Cardiologists who offer video visits.
Most insurers provide coverage for video visits at the same cost as in-person visits. You can search on Zocdoc specifically for Cardiologists in Houston who accept your insurance for video visits by selecting your carrier and plan from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. We recommend you check with your insurance carrier directly to confirm your coverage and out of pocket costs for video visits.
Zocdoc lets you search specifically for a Cardiologist who has appointments available before 10:00 am, or after 5:00 pm. Just choose the special hours filter at the top of our search page.
Zocdoc let's you see real-time availability for Cardiologists in Houston. Many Cardiologists offer appointments on Saturdays and Sundays.
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 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.
Cardiologists perform a series of tests to identify and address any underlying heart problems. Some of these include:
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 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:
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:
Congenital heart defects: Congenital heart defects are severe conditions and are generally detected soon after childbirth. Common symptoms in children include the following:
Symptoms of less severe congenital heart defects in children and adults include the
following:
Cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disorder): Cardiomyopathy symptoms become noticeable only when the condition worsens. Its symptoms include the following:
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:
Endocarditis: Endocarditis is an infection impacting the inner lining of heart valves and chambers. Its symptoms include the following:
As a rule of thumb, you must seek emergency medical care if you experience chest discomfort and pain, fainting, or shortness of breath.
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:
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.
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.
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!
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.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.