Who is a cardiologist?
Cardiologists specialize in diagnosing, treating, and managing problems related to the cardiovascular system - the heart and a closed system of blood vessels, namely, arteries, veins, and capillaries. Pediatric cardiology and adult cardiology are the two typical specialties of cardiologists. As they do not perform heart surgery, they differ from heart surgeons.
Education and training of a cardiologist
An aspiring cardiologist in the USA undergoes at least ten years of medical training. After completing four years of medical school and five years of additional specialty training in cardiology, they clear a cardiovascular disease exam by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) to become eligible cardiology practitioners.
What do cardiologists do?
Cardiologists may work in hospitals or private practices, teach at universities, and conduct research within labs to develop new treatments. Besides diagnosing and treating cardiovascular disorders using conventional medicine, they educate patients on habits promoting heart health.
Heart attacks are the most common reason one visits a cardiologist. Other conditions a cardiologist treats include, but are not limited to:
- High blood pressure: When the force of the blood against your artery walls is high enough to cause heart diseases
- Heart valve disease: When one or more of your heart valves do not work correctly
- Arrhythmia: Irregular heartbeats
- Congenital heart disease: A term for a range of congenital disabilities (congenital disabilities) affecting the normal working of your heart
- Coronary artery disease: A common heart condition where the major blood vessels (coronary arteries) struggle to send enough blood, nutrients, and oxygen to the heart muscles
- Angina (chest pain): Chest pain or discomfort caused when your heart muscles do not receive enough oxygenated blood.
When to see a cardiologist near you?
Mentioned below are some of the typical events due to which you may need to visit a cardiologist:
- Your primary physician has referred you to a cardiologist.
- You have a family history of heart disease.
- You have high blood pressure.
- You have high cholesterol.
- You are experiencing consistent or sharp chest pain.
Call 911 or visit a cardiologist at the earliest if you have any of the following symptoms along with chest pain:
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Sudden squeezing or pressure under your breastbone
- Discomfort in your left arm, neck, jaw, abdomen, or back
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Excessive sweating
- Low blood pressure or low heart rate
- Fluttering sensation in the chest
What are the symptoms and risk factors of heart disease?
Common symptoms of heart failure are swelling of the neck veins, feet, ankles, legs, or abdomen. Fatigue and shortness of breath could also indicate heart failure, while palpitations, such as a fluttering in the chest, are a typical sign of an arrhythmia. Similarly, any unexplained vomiting, nausea, indigestion, heartburn, or pain in the chest, upper back, or neck could be a heart attack symptom. Diabetes, unhealthy diet, excessive alcohol, physical inactivity, obesity, high blood cholesterol or blood pressure, or smoking could lead to heart disease. In some cases, underlying health issues can cause cardiomyopathy.
What is cardiomyopathy?
Cardiomyopathy is a group of diseases that impact the heart muscles. It can occur due to substances accumulating in the heart or if the heart muscles have thinned out, stiffened, or thickened for multiple reasons. It could be due to inherited genes or another disease – and it is sometimes impossible to learn the cause. Due to cardiomyopathy, the heart cannot pump blood properly, leading to heart failure, blood collection in the lungs, or irregular heartbeats.
Cardiomyopathy can be of different types: It can be restrictive (the heart muscle is stiff or scarred), arrhythmogenic (irregular rhythms or heartbeats), hypertrophic (thicked heart muscle), or dilated (enlarged ventricles). Pediatric cardiomyopathy in children could be inherited or caused due to a viral infection.
If you suffer from cardiomyopathy or any heart conditions mentioned above, your cardiologist can suggest an appropriate cardiac rehabilitation plan.
What is cardiac rehabilitation?
Your cardiologist may advise a cardiac rehabilitation program to help you recover from heart surgeries, heart attacks, or heart failure. Depending on the patient's condition, this program can last two to eight months.
Cardiac rehab involves educating the patient about how to lead a healthy life through optimum diet, medication, and heart-healthy habits. If the person is going through stress or anxiety, the program will guide them on relieving stress. It will also advise them to stop habits such as substance abuse or smoking, which may have caused the problem or could lead to a similar situation in the future. Cardiac rehab usually involves a team of physicians or health professionals such as counselors, nutrition and exercise specialists, and physical therapists, and it consists of being closely monitored by your cardiologist.
What tests do cardiologists perform?
Your cardiologist may perform one or several of the following tests to identify specific cardiovascular conditions:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): This test measures your heartbeat's electrical activity. It gives two major kinds of information - the time the electrical waves take when they pass through different heart components and whether parts of the heart are too large.
- Chest X-rays: This test provides information on your lungs and the heart's size and shape. It causes minimal radiation emission and no long-term side effects.
- Echocardiogram: This test is an ultrasound recording of the inside of the heart. It can detect many congenital heart defects or heart muscle problems.
- Cardiac catheterization: This procedure lets the cardiologist get direct information about your heart's blood pressure and flow patterns.
- Angiogram: This test is an X-ray taken while contrast, a special fluid visible by X-ray, is injected into a cardiac chamber or significant blood vessel.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): This test is another way to take clear pictures of the heart and measure heart function. It uses painless magnetic waves to assess the heart and the surrounding blood vessels.
- CT (Computerized Tomography) of the Heart: This test uses multiple X-ray images to create an X-ray film of the heart and lungs.
How to prepare for a cardiologist appointment?
If you are going to meet a cardiologist near you for the first time, you may have many doubts and queries. What should you carry to the appointment? What will the cardiologist ask you? Will you have to undergo testing? To get answers to these and other valid questions you may have, read the following guidelines carefully. They will help you feel better prepared for the consultation!
- Arrive at the clinic at least 15-20 minutes before your appointment. This way, you can complete the necessary paperwork and submit the required documents, including your photo ID, insurance details, and doctor's referral.
- Carry your medical records, including details of your existing medical conditions, allergies, past surgeries, and previous diagnostic reports, if any.
- Learn about your family history and find out if any close ones had health conditions such as coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease, hypertension, high cholesterol, stroke, or diabetes.
- List down all your medications and their dosages. It includes your prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and supplements.
- Have information about your lifestyle habits, including whether you smoke, drink alcohol, or take drugs. Additionally, be ready to talk about your physical activity level, stress levels, and daily diet.
- Jot down details about your symptoms, including when they first occurred, how often they occur, whether anything makes them better or worse, how they affect your everyday life, and what treatments you tried in the past.
- Prepare a list of concerns and questions you want to address with your cardiologist.
- Call the doctor's office to ask if you can expect any tests and how you should prepare for them.
- Ask a loved one, such as a family member or friend, to join you for the appointment as they can listen and take doctor's notes for your later reference. Plus, they can provide emotional support and help you stay calm.
Best cardiologist near you in Phoenix, Arizona
A well-functioning heart is a crucial component of a long, healthy life. One should not underestimate the impact of proper and timely medical care for treating cardiovascular disorders. At Zocdoc, we help care for your medical needs by connecting you with the best cardiologists in your location, Phoenix, Arizona.
Just visit the Zocdoc website and type 'cardiologist' under specialty and 'Phoenix, Arizona' under location. Our comprehensive healthcare directory will access your location's top-rated and experienced cardiologist profiles and present them to you. You may then filter over thousands of available doctor profiles based on education, clinical interests and specializations, practice history, certifications, and patient ratings and reviews to choose the best cardiologist.
Considering a second opinion is always a wise decision. You may search our directory for other cardiologist profiles besides your primary cardiologist to receive a second opinion on your cardiovascular disorder diagnosis or treatment plan. You can also utilize Zocdoc's insurance card capture feature to submit your medical insurance information pre-appointment. Once you choose the best cardiologists for your unique case, Zocdoc shall assist you in instantly booking an appointment for your first session.
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Prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in Arizona
The National Center for Health Statistics 2020 data reported heart disease as Arizona's leading cause of death. There were over 14,196 deaths per 100,000 total population of Arizona in 2020. Parallelly, America's Health Rankings reported approximately 8.1% of Arizona adults received a diagnosis of angina, coronary heart disease, heart attack, myocardial infarction, or a stroke by a health professional in 2020. There was a decline in the figure from around 9.3% in 2018 and 8.3% in 2019.
Based on data amassed between 2015 and 2020, cardiovascular disorders have been more common in males than females. Over 9.9% of Arizona males reported a cardiovascular disease diagnosis against 6.4% of Arizona females. They are also more common among people older than 65 than those between 45 and 64 and 18 to 44. In 2020, 19.8% of Arizonians over 65 reported cardiovascular illnesses against 8.3% of those aged 45 to 64 and 2% of those between 18 to 44 years.
Additionally, the prevalence of cardiovascular disorders was found to be most common among the White community in Arizona at about 9.9%, compared to Blacks, American Indians, and Hispanics, who were at 7.2%, 7.1%, and 5.3%, respectively.
Sources
Web MD
Mayo Clinic[1]
Mayo Clinic[2]
Mayo Clinic[3]
NHS
Mayo Clinic[4]
Penn Medicine
Heart Attack and Stroke Symptoms[1]
Heart Attack and Stroke Symptoms[2]
Florida Medical Clinic
National Center for Health Statistics
America’s Health Rankings
Mass General Brigham
AMS Cardiology
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