Cardiology is a branch of medicine that studies the structure, function, diseases of the heart and vessels, the causes of their occurrence, mechanisms of development, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis. In addition, cardiology considers methods of treatment, prevention, and issues of medical rehabilitation for patients with cardiovascular system disorders.
Cardiology
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Consulting a cardiologist is necessary if the following symptoms are observed:
- Acute chest pain associated with physical activity or emotional stress, or unrelated to stress factors;
- Chest pain that occurs periodically or systematically, after infections, angina, against the background of being overweight;
- Changes in heart rhythm that are prolonged (feeling of pauses, heart stopping, thumping in the chest);
- Elevation or sharp fluctuations in blood pressure;
- Swelling in the legs and arms;
- Episodes of shortness of breath, feeling of lack of air;
- Increased fatigue, weakness, low blood pressure;
- Intensified sweating, dizziness, fainting or pre-fainting states, especially with sudden changes in body position;
- Meteorological sensitivity;
- Feeling of palpitations;
- Family history of myocardial infarction or stroke, as well as sudden death before the age of 55;
- Cyanosis (blueness) of the lips;
- Newly diagnosed diabetes;
- Episodes of loss of consciousness (dizziness).
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How to prepare for a cardiologist's examination?
No special preparation for the examination is required. If any cardiological examinations have been carried out previously, they should be brought along. Also, it is necessary to write down all the medications being taken – names, dosages, regimen.
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What diseases does a cardiologist treat:
- Angina;
- Heart rhythm disorders;
- Aneurysms;
- Arrhythmias;
- Hypotension;
- Hypertension;
- Congenital and acquired heart defects;
- Myocardial infarction, etc.
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What happens during a cardiologist's appointment?
At the first appointment, the doctor will thoroughly investigate all current patient complaints. It is equally important to determine if similar or other symptoms occurred in the past, and if there are relatives with health problems, heart attacks, strokes. The doctor then performs a physical examination including measuring height and weight, assessing the condition of the skin, measuring blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rate. The most informative during the examination are auscultation (listening) of the heart, measuring pulse and blood pressure. Auscultation listens for sounds that occur due to heart overload or presence of heart defects. The frequency and regularity of the pulse are important for diagnosing arrhythmias and choosing the optimal therapy. Blood pressure measurement helps diagnose arterial hypertension and assess the effectiveness of its treatment.
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Diagnostics in cardiology:
To make a diagnosis, a set of analyses and instrumental studies is required, which are prescribed by the doctor.
