A heart doctor is called a cardiologist.
Cardiologists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases and conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels (the cardiovascular system). They possess extensive knowledge of the heart's structure and function, as well as various cardiovascular disorders.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
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Expertise: Cardiologists are experts in managing conditions like:
- Heart disease
- Heart failure
- Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats)
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Congenital heart defects
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Responsibilities: Their duties include:
- Performing physical exams
- Ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests (e.g., electrocardiograms (ECGs), echocardiograms, stress tests)
- Prescribing medications
- Performing procedures (e.g., angioplasty, pacemaker implantation)
- Providing lifestyle recommendations for heart health.
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Subspecialties: Within cardiology, there are numerous subspecialties, such as:
- Electrophysiology: Focuses on heart rhythm disorders.
- Interventional Cardiology: Involves performing minimally invasive procedures like angioplasty and stenting.
- Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology: Specializes in the management of advanced heart failure and heart transplantation.
- Preventive Cardiology: Concentrates on preventing heart disease through lifestyle modifications and risk factor management.
- Echocardiography: Utilizes ultrasound to assess heart structure and function.
It's important to note that a cardiologist is different from a cardiac surgeon. While a cardiologist typically manages heart conditions with medication and non-surgical procedures, a cardiac surgeon performs open-heart surgery and other surgical interventions on the heart and blood vessels.
