Cardiology

Chest | Cardiology (Medicine Field)


Description

Cardiology is a medical branch specialized in disorders of the the human heart or blood vessels. Cardiology is specialty of internal medicine. Cardiology is concerned with the normal functionality of the heart and the deviation from a healthy heart. Some disorders involve the heart itself and some are outside of the heart.

Specialization

Physicians who specialize in this field of medicine are called cardiologists and those who specialize in cardiac surgery are called cardiac surgeons.

Symptoms and Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases include Arteriosclerosis, Coronary artery disease, Heart valve disease, Arrhythmia, Unstable angina, Heart failure, Heart block, Cardiac arrest, Hypertension, Orthostatic hypotension, Shock, Endocarditis, Myocarditis, Cardiomyopathy, diseases of the aorta and its branches, disorders of the peripheral vascular system, and Congenital heart disease.

Major risk factors in developing cardiovascular diseases are: age, gender, smoking, nutrition, obesity, elevated blood pressure, elevated serum total (and LDL) cholesterol, low serum HDL cholesterol, Diabetes mellitus. Other may include: family history of premature coronary heart disease, ethnic characteristics, conditional risk factors, elevated serum triglycerides.

Of these listed risk factors, all but advancing age, family history and ethnicity may be modified using various interventions and treatments. Male gender is another factor, which affects risk assessment and is also generally not considered as modifiable.

Diagnosis, Treatment and Benefits

The diagnostic tests in cardiology are methods of identifying heart conditions associated with healthy vs. unhealthy, pathologic, heart function. Example of tests: bedside that includes personal history and auscultation, laboratory (blood tests), electrophysiology such as electrocardiogram, holter monitor, event monitor, cardiac stress testing, electrophysiology study, and medical imaging. ...