A cardiologist is a doctor who specializes in the cardiovascular system - which includes the heart and blood vessels. Cardiologists are experts in the anatomy and health of the heart, the cardiovascular system, and a wide range of heart diseases. They are sometimes referred to as heart doctors.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US, and cardiologists are on the frontlines of the fight against this condition. They treat heart disease as well as many other related issues, like high blood pressure, blocked arteries, heart attacks, heart valve disease, arrhythmia, and heart failure. They also promote heart-healthy habits with their patients.

Board-certified cardiologists must complete undergraduate training, medical school, a residency in internal medicine, and a cardiology fellowship. Once they have completed their education (which takes about 15 years!), cardiologists earn certification from the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM).

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Cardiologists treat a wide spectrum of heart diseases and vascular diseases, which include:

- Heart and blood vessel disease (Cardiovascular disease): The term "heart disease" encompasses several conditions that include heart attack, stroke, heart failure, arrhythmia, and heart valve problems.

- Heart attack: Heart attacks occur when fat, cholesterol and other substances block arteries. Heart attacks can be fatal. Signs of a heart attack include pressure, pain or aching in your chest and arms, nausea, cold sweat, fatigue, shortness of breath, sudden dizziness, and/or feeling lightheaded. If you think you are having a heart attack you need to act immediately.

- Stroke: A blockage of blood supply to the brain that can cause major bodily damage and may result in death.

- Congestive heart failure: A gradual weakening of the heart muscle that can get worse over time and may lead to a heart attack.

- Arrhythmia: When the electrical impulses that regulate heart rhythm don’t work properly. It can feel like a racing heart, or a fluttering and can happen in addition to palpitations.

- Heart palpitations: Skipping heartbeats, pounding, rapid heartbeats, or beating too fast.

- Coronary artery disease: When the blood vessels that supply blood, oxygen, and nutrients to your heart become damaged or diseased.

- Hypertension: High blood pressure.

- Atrial fibrillation: An irregular heartbeat that may increase your chances of getting a stroke.

Cardiologists can perform a wide range of procedures, including:

- Ablation: A heart that beats too quickly, palpitates, or has arrhythmia can benefit from ablation. This procedure involves ablating the troubled area, causing scar tissue to develop which helps prevent short-circuiting. If you suffer from tachycardia, a condition that causes your heart to beat around 100 beats per minute or higher, you may also benefit from ablation.

- Electrocardiogram (EKG): An EKG machine records the electrical signals in your heart. It may be used to check for abnormal heart rhythms, detect heart attack, or check up on heart disease treatments including pacemakers and stents.

- Echocardiogram (ECG):__ A machine that uses sound waves to create an image of your heart.

- Angioplasty: A procedure that threads a thin tube through a blood vessel in the groin or arm to restore blood flow to an artery.

Symptoms of heart conditions can vary depending on the condition. However, there are several signs that you should speak to a doctor or cardiologist right away. These symptoms include:

- Pain or discomfort in the chest: Tightness in the chest or chest pain can be an early indicator of a blocked artery, heart infections, or arrhythmias. Pain in the chest can also be a warning sign that you are having a heart attack.

- Dizziness or lightheadedness: Dizziness or lightheadedness can indicate arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, or heart valve disease. If your blood pressure has dropped significantly, this can also produce lightheadedness.

- Fatigue: Fatigue or shortness of breath can be an indicator of cardiomyopathy (diseased heart muscle), coronary artery disease, congenital heart defects, arrhythmias, and more. Fatigue and shortness of breath while performing daily activities is one of the most common signs of heart disease.

- Swelling or coldness in legs, feet, ankles: Swelling or coldness in the lower extremities is a common sign that the heart is not pumping blood effectively. This can be a sign of heart valve disease, atherosclerosis (buildup of plaque in arteries), cardiomyopathy, and more.

- Irregular heartbeat: Fast (“fluttering”) or slow heartbeats are common signs of arrhythmia, weakened heart pumping, and heart valve problems.

If you have had any of these symptoms in the past, or are experiencing them, talk to a doctor right away. These sensations can be signs of life-threatening heart disease. In the United States, 1 in 4 deaths a year is caused by heart disease or complications from heart disease. Images taken of your heart muscle can help detect these conditions early, and help prevent severe problems down the road.

The best thing you can do if you are concerned about heart failure is to speak to a cardiologist who can provide treatment options and create a treatment plan that meets your needs.

To understand the extent of your heart failure, your doctor may use diagnostic treatments such as an x-ray or an echocardiogram, or have you perform a stress test to test your heart rate during activity. A treatment plan may involve lifestyle changes including a heart-healthy diet, or medication such as beta-blockers or statins

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