Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a heart attack.
Sometimes the heart attacks are apparent and land the victim in the hospital. Other times the heart attacks are entirely silent. They do a ton of damage, but no one is the wiser.
Heart attacks can be scary, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore them. Instead, you should learn how cardiologists can pave a bright future for your health.
What is a cardiologist, and when should you see one? Read on to find out.
What Is a Cardiologist?
What is a cardiologist? Cardiologists are a specific type of heart doctor. They’re a type of cardiovascular specialist.
Cardiologists specialize in treating and diagnosing different health conditions that involve your cardiovascular system. There are a lot of different cardiovascular specialists, with cardiology being one of them.
For instance, cardiologists can perform various tests to check how healthy your heart is. They might even perform angioplasties, pacemaker surgeries, heart catheterizations, and more.
A few other cardiovascular specialists include cardiac surgeons, electrophysiologists, interventional cardiologists, and vascular medicine cardiologists. On the office side of things, there are also cardiology medical billing, and coding roles.
There’s More Than One Type of Heart Doctor
Now you know that a cardiologist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating heart conditions. But what about the different types of cardiologists? What’s their job?
A non-invasive cardiologist is a standard cardiologist, a regular heart doctor. Non-invasive cardiologists are the ones who will diagnose and treat different heart issues.
An invasive cardiologist is authorized to perform procedures such as cardiac catheterization. An interventional cardiologist has even more training, making them a great candidate for performing angioplasties and stent placements. Interventional cardiologists can also clear up calcified arteries that are experiencing a blockage.
When will you need to see a cardiologist? It depends.
Anyone with a higher than usual risk for heart disease will definitely need to see a cardiologist. You should also reach out to a heart doctor if you’re experiencing symptoms related to heart issues.
Risk of Heart Attack
Chest pain is a red flag that something’s not going well with your heart. If you’re having chest pains, talk to your doctor immediately.
Sometimes chest pain won’t have anything to do with your heart. However, it’s better to get it properly checked out than risk your health. You won’t really know what’s causing the pain until you see a doctor.
If your chest pain worsens with activity, it might be a sign that your heart isn’t getting the blood it needs. A cardiologist will be able to diagnose your condition and prescribe the perfect treatment plan.
In some situations, chest pain could be a sign of a severe heart attack which is a potentially fatal situation. You should learn the signs of a heart attack and call 911 the moment you suspect you might be having one. Keep in mind that the signs of a heart attack are different for women than for men.
High Blood Pressure or Shortness of Breath
High blood pressure, palpitations, dizziness, and shortness of breath are also signs that you should see a cardiologist. If your heart is the cause of the shortness of breath, you’ll need to address it immediately. You might be dealing with an abnormal heart rhythm or cardiovascular artery disease.
Why does high blood pressure matter? When your blood pressure isn’t stabilized, it means your heart has to work harder. The chances of a heart attack or stroke are higher with poor blood pressure or high blood pressure.
A cardiologist will be able to assess your situation and determine the exact cause of your high blood pressure. They might suggest lifestyle changes, such as cutting out salts or slowing down on red meats.
Do You Have Diabetes?
Do you have diabetes? You should talk to your primary care physician about setting up a cardiology appointment. A cardiologist can work hand in hand with your primary care physician to make the ultimate treatment plan. You’ll be able to lower your risk of having a heart attack, also reducing your risk of developing artery disease.
One of the reasons diabetes affects your heart is blood sugar regulation. When your blood sugar is out of control, it’s difficult for your blood vessels to function properly.
High blood sugar makes it more likely that you’ll develop some type of coronary artery disease. Thankfully, cardiologists are experts at helping individuals with diabetes lead long, fulfilling lives.
History of Smoking or Heart Disease
Are you now, or did you use to be a smoker? If yes, you should set up an appointment with the cardiologist as soon as possible.
It’s also a good idea to look into free resources to help quit smoking if you’re still hooked. Even if you’ve been a smoker for a long time, quitting today can add years to your life.
There’s a major correlation between smoking and heart disease. Smoking also increases your chance of having cancer. By quitting and setting up a recovery plan with the cardiologist, you can set yourself on the best path.
Does your family have a history of heart disease? Some types of heart disease are genetic and don’t have anything to do with smoking.
If one of your relatives had early-onset heart disease, there’s a chance you could be at risk. Luckily, a cardiologist can determine exactly how much risk you’re facing. They’ll be able to recommend the best preventative strategies while also ordering tests.
Seeing a Heart Specialist
What is a cardiologist? Now you know. They’re incredible individuals with in-depth training and expertise on all things heart-related.
Talk to your primary care physician today if you’re dealing with any of the symptoms we discussed, such as chest pains or shortness of breath. Ask them if you should see a cardiologist, and get your appointment set up.
Every little bit you do to invest in your health is a wise choice. Find out more wise tips by reading another one of our blog posts!