Whenever a general practitioner of medicine detects unusual problems or symptoms of heart disease among patients which is beyond his capability to manage, the patient is referred to a cardiologist. 

What is a cardiologist?

A cardiologist is a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats diseases or problems of the cardiovascular system, i.e., the heart and the associated blood vessels. Cardiologists are also called heart specialists or heart doctors. Cardiology is a subspecialty of internal medicine.

What are the different types of cardiologists?

While all cardiologists focus on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cardiovascular disease, they further specialize into different fields or area of care. These subspecializations in internal medicine require 1 to 2 years of formal training.

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Hereunder are the different types of cardiologists:

1. Pediatric cardiologists. Pediatric cardiologists specialize in children’s heart problems especially congenital heart defects or those heart defects present at birth.
2. Adult cardiologists. Adult cardiologists treat adult patients. They focus on the treatment and prevention of heart disease and heart attacks.
3. Echocardiographists. This type of cardiologist interprets the performance of echocardiogram and transesophageal echo procedures. Echocardiogram or simply ECHO is a graphical image of the heart produced by a painless ultrasound test. Cardiologists use this test to detect problematic valves, study irregular heartbeats, determine if the heart is enlarged or damaged.
4. Electrophysiologists. Cardiologists engaged in electrophysiology treat the arrhythmias or irregular heartbeat and generally, the electrical system of the heart. They also perform implants of artificial pacemakers and defibrillators. A pacemakers is a medical device which uses electrical impulses, delivered by electrodes contacting the heart muscles, to regulate the beating of the heart. A defibrillator is an electronic device that administers an electric shock of preset voltage to the heart through the chest wall in an attempt to restore the normal rhythm of the heart.
5. Nuclear cardiologists. Nuclear cardiologists assess the pumping function of the heart, evaluate blood flow in the heart, determine blockages in blood vessels that connect to the heart, determine the degree of heart damage by assessing its size and location. They use imaging tools like myocardial perfusion where an imaging agent is injected into the bloodstream to study the heart.
6. Interventional specializations. Other cardiologists may further specialize in interventional procedures to treat heart problems like balloon angioplasty and stent insertion, catheterization, rotablator, and the use of various cutting and laser devices that remove plaque from arteries.

How are cardiologists educated and trained?

Candidate cardiologists must be graduates of an approved medical school. In the United States, they must complete a 3-year Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited internal medicine residency program. They must have meaningful patient contact and responsibility for a period of two years where 20 months must be devoted in in-patient services, ambulatory settings, and services in dermatology and neurology. The other four months may be taken outside of the previously mentioned areas.

Once graduate education is completed, the prospective cardiologist takes an Internal Medicine Board Examination. Upon successfully passing the board exam, the physician receives board certification in internal medicine. This is prerequisite to becoming certified in cardiology.

References

Kugler, Mary, 2008. Cardiologist. Retrieved on 2 January 2010 from http://rarediseases.about.com/od/medicalterms/g/cardiologist.htm.

Swierzewski, Stanley J., 2007. What is a cardiologist. Retrieved on 2 January 2010 from http://www.cardiologychannel.com/cardiologist.shtml.

Texas Heart Institute, 2010. What is a cardiologist. Retrieved on 2 January 2010 from http://www.texasheartinstitute.org/HIC/Topics/FAQ/wicardio.cfm.

©Patrick A. Regoniel 2 January 2010 What is a cardiologist?