Cardiology is the study and treatment of heart and blood vessel disorders. A cardiologist specializes in diagnosing and treating cardiovascular diseases through tests, procedures, and providing advice to prevent heart disease. Common tests include electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, stress tests, and cardiac catheterization. A cardiologist may be needed if a person has symptoms of heart problems, risks like family history or smoking, or has had a prior heart issue like a heart attack.
Cardiology is the study and treatment of heart and blood vessel disorders. A cardiologist specializes in diagnosing and treating cardiovascular diseases through tests, procedures, and providing advice to prevent heart disease. Common tests include electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, stress tests, and cardiac catheterization. A cardiologist may be needed if a person has symptoms of heart problems, risks like family history or smoking, or has had a prior heart issue like a heart attack.
Cardiology is the study and treatment of heart and blood vessel disorders. A cardiologist specializes in diagnosing and treating cardiovascular diseases through tests, procedures, and providing advice to prevent heart disease. Common tests include electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, stress tests, and cardiac catheterization. A cardiologist may be needed if a person has symptoms of heart problems, risks like family history or smoking, or has had a prior heart issue like a heart attack.
Cardiology is the study and treatment of heart and blood vessel disorders. A cardiologist specializes in diagnosing and treating cardiovascular diseases through tests, procedures, and providing advice to prevent heart disease. Common tests include electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, stress tests, and cardiac catheterization. A cardiologist may be needed if a person has symptoms of heart problems, risks like family history or smoking, or has had a prior heart issue like a heart attack.
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UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE EL SALVADOR
FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS DE LA SALUD
DOCTORADO EN MEDICINA TECHNICAL ENGLISH TWO UNIT NINE: CARDIOLOGY TEACHER: SILVIA CAROLINA DE MARROQUIN
TOPIC:
Cardiology is the study and treatment of disorders of the heart and the blood vessels. A person with heart disease or cardiovascular disease may be referred to a cardiologist.
Cardiology is a branch of internal medicine. A cardiologist is not the same as a cardiac
surgeon. A cardiac surgeon opens the chest and performs heart surgery.
A cardiologist specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases of the cardiovascular system.
The cardiologist will carry out tests, and they may perform some procedures, such as heart catheterizations, angioplasty, or inserting a pacemaker.
Heart disease relates specifically to the heart, while cardiovascular disease affects the heart, the blood vessels, or both.
To become a cardiologist in the United States, it is necessary to complete 4 years of
medical school, 3 years of training in internal medicine, and at least 3 years specializing in cardiology.
When would I need a cardiologist?
Share on PinterestCardiology deals with heart health.
If a person has symptoms of a heart condition, their physician may refer them to a cardiologist.
Symptoms that can indicate a heart problem include:
shortness of breath dizziness chest pains changes in heart rate or rhythm high blood pressure
A cardiologist can carry out tests for a heart murmur or an abnormal heart rhythm. They often treat patients who have had a heart attack, heart failure, or other heart problems. They help make decisions about heart surgery, heart catheterization, and angioplasty and stenting.
Heart diseases that a cardiologist can help with include:
atherosclerosis atrial fibrillation arrhythmias congenital heart disease coronary heart disease congestive heart disease high blood cholesterol and triglycerides hypertension pericarditis ventricular tachycardia high blood pressure, or hypertension
The cardiologist can give advice about preventing heart disease.
A person may need to see a cardiologist even without symptoms, if they have a family history of heart disease or high cholesterol, if they are or have been a smoker, if they have diabetes, or if they are starting a new exercise program.
A woman who has had pre-eclampsia may be at higher risk of heart problems in a later
pregnancy or during the menopause.
What does cardiology involve?
A cardiologist will review a patient’s medical history and carry out a physical examination.
They may check the person’s weight, heart, lungs, blood pressure, and blood vessels, and carry out some tests.
An interventional cardiologist may carry out procedures such as angioplasties, stenting,
valvuloplasties, congenital heart defect corrections, and coronary thrombectomies.
Tests They may also carry out or order tests as listed below:
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): this records the electrical activity of the heart.
Ambulatory ECG: this records heart rhythms while the person carries out exercise or their regular activities. Small metal electrodes are stuck on to the chest, and these are connected by wires to a Holter monitor, which records the rhythms.
An exercise test, or stress test: this shows the changes of heart rhythm when resting and exercising. It measures the performance and limitations of the heart.
Echocardiogram: this provides an ultrasound picture that shows the structure of the heart chambers and surrounding areas, and it can show how well the heart is working.
Echocardiography can measure how well the heart is pumping blood, known as cardiac output. It can detect inflammation around the heart, known as pericarditis. It can also identify structural abnormalities or infections of the heart valves.
Cardiac catheterization: a small tube in or near the heart collects data and may help relieve a blockage. It can take pictures and check the functioning of the heart and the electrical system. Catheter-based techniques with fluoroscopy can be used to treat congenital cardiac, valvular, and coronary artery diseases.
Nuclear cardiology: nuclear imaging techniques use radioactive materials to study
cardiovascular disorders and diseases in a noninvasive way.
Examples are infarction imaging, single-photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT),
planar imaging, and myocardial perfusion imaging.
Cardiac electrophysiology
Cardiac electrophysiology is a subspecialty of cardiology. The physician looks at how
electric currents inside the heart muscle tissue work, how the current spreads, and what the pattern of the currents mean.
Electrophysiology study (EPS) of the heart: in this test, a catheter is threaded into a vein at the top of the leg. Guided under fluoroscopy, it makes its way to the heart. The catheter measures the electrical signals within the heart.
An EPS of the heart can:
Help to show what is causing symptoms
Help decide if a patient needs a pacemaker Help decide the best treatment for patients with arrhythmia, or abnormal heart rhythm Determine how likely a patient is to experience tachycardia or an accelerated heartbeat.
A cardiac electro physiologist can provide treatment for abnormal rhythms
including cardiac ablation, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, or pacemakers.
ACTIVITY: According to the reading, please answer the following question:
1. What do you know about cardiology? Cardiology is the part of Medicine
that covers the framework located in the heart and the vascular system. Its basic purpose is the study, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
2. When the Cardiology is needed? It would be indicated if the patient has
symptoms or signs that suggest a heart disease or if he or she has a high cardiovascular risk due to the presence of factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol levels or obesity.
3. What does the cardiology involve? Cardiologists are doctors who
specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the heart and blood vessels - the cardiovascular system.
4. When would a patient need a cardiologist?
Going to the cardiologist when we notice that something is wrong can avoid more than one scare. That is why it is important to pay attention to certain alarm signals with which our body warns us that we need to see a doctor.
5. What are the advantages of the Electrophysiology Study (EPS)?
It is a complementary, safe and effective method, which allows to orient with greater precision and rationality the behaviors and therapeutic decisions in the management of arrhythmias.
