Cardiology

Cardiology is the study of the heart. It comes from an old word for heart and a word meaning "study." This area of medicine looks at problems with the heart and the blood vessels that carry blood in the body. It is a special part of internal medicine. This means doctors focus on keeping the inside of the body healthy.

People who work in cardiology are called cardiologists. They help find and treat many heart problems. This includes heart defects that children are born with, blockages in the blood vessels of the heart, and problems with the heart not working well. Some doctors even specialize in helping children with heart problems; these doctors are called pediatric cardiologists. There are also surgeons who focus on operating on the heart and chest; these specialists are known as cardiothoracic surgeons. All of these experts work to keep hearts healthy.

Ancient Greek cardiovascular system internal medicine medical diagnosis congenital heart defects coronary artery disease heart failure valvular heart disease electrophysiology Physicians pediatricians cardiothoracic surgeons general surgery

Specializations

Cardiologists study problems with the heart. They have different training depending on whether they focus on adults or children. Adult cardiologists do not care for children, and pediatric cardiologists do not treat adult heart problems. Some heart surgeries, like coronary artery bypass or valve replacement, are done by surgeons. But cardiologists can do many tests and treatments without surgery, such as checking the heart with catheters, fixing heart valves, and placing devices to help the heart’s rhythm.

In the United States, becoming a cardiologist requires three years of training after medical school in internal medicine, followed by three more years in cardiology. In the United Kingdom, doctors need two years of general training, three years in internal medicine, and then five years in cardiology training. In India, it takes about 11.5 years after high school to become a cardiologist.

The heart

Main article: Heart

The heart is the main focus of cardiology. It has many parts, like the atria and ventricles. It works by pumping blood and making heart sounds. The heart sits in the middle of your body, slightly to the left. Its main job is to pump blood to all parts of the body. It sends blood to the lungs to get oxygen and then pumps it back out.

When the heart has problems, it can cause heart disease. The heart works like a pump, moving blood through your body. It has parts that help it squeeze at the right time and parts that move the blood. If these parts don’t work well, it can cause health issues.

Coronary circulation is the blood flow in the heart’s own blood vessels. These vessels bring oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle and take away blood that has less oxygen. If these vessels get blocked, it can cause chest pain or a heart attack.

The cardiac examination is a way doctors check the heart. Doctors look, feel, and listen to the heart to see how it’s working.

Heart disorders

Main article: List of heart disorders

Cardiology is the study of how the heart works when it is healthy and when it is not. The heart and blood vessels work together as the cardiovascular system, and problems with one can affect the other.

Coronary artery disease

Main article: Coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease is a common problem with the heart. It can cause chest pain or shortness of breath. It happens when the arteries to the heart become narrow. Risk factors include high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, and not exercising. Doctors can help with tests and treatments.

Cardiomyopathy

Main article: Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy means the heart muscle does not work well. It can be caused by genetics, viruses, or lifestyle choices. Symptoms include shortness of breath and feeling tired. Learning about the heart muscle is important for treatment.

Cardiac arrhythmia

Main article: Arrhythmia

Cardiac arrhythmia is when the heart’s rhythm is too fast, too slow, or irregular. This might feel like fluttering in the chest. While many types are not dangerous, some can cause problems. Doctors can diagnose and treat arrhythmias.

Cardiac arrest

Main article: Cardiac arrest

Cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops working. This can happen because of heart problems or other serious conditions. It is a medical emergency and needs quick help to save the person’s life.

Hypertension

Main article: Hypertension

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is when the blood pushes too hard against the artery walls. It often does not cause symptoms but can lead to serious health issues like heart disease or stroke. Changing lifestyle habits and using medications can help lower blood pressure.

Congenital heart defects

Main article: Congenital heart defect

Congenital heart defects are problems with the heart that are present at birth. Symptoms can range from none to very serious. These defects might need medical treatment or surgery. They are the most common type of birth defect and can sometimes be prevented through vaccinations and good nutrition.

Diagnostic tests in cardiology

Main article: Diagnostic tests in cardiology

Diagnostic tests in cardiology help doctors see if someone’s heart is healthy. First, doctors talk to the person and ask questions to get a medical history. Then, they listen to the heart with a special tool. After that, they might do blood tests or use special pictures to see the heart. Some tests look at how the heart’s electricity works, like an electrocardiogram, or they watch the heart while the person exercises.

Trials

Cardiology uses special tests called randomized controlled trials to find the best ways to treat heart problems. Many of these tests are done every year, and some change how doctors treat heart disease. These important tests often have short names.

Some of these key tests include:

• V-HeFT (1986) — using certain medicines for heart failure
• ISIS-2 (1988) — using aspirin for heart attacks
• CAST (1991) — using special medicines after a heart attack can be harmful
• SOLVD (1991) — using ACE inhibitors for heart failure
• 4S (1994) — statins can lower the risk of heart disease
• CURE (1991) — using two types of blood-thinning medicine for a certain kind of heart attack
• MIRACLE (2002) — using a special therapy for heart failure
• SCD-HeFT (2005) — using a small device to help with heart failure
• RELY (2009), ROCKET-AF (2011), ARISTOTLE (2011) — using new medicines for a heart rhythm problem instead of an older one
• PARADIGM-HF (2014) — using a new kind of medicine for heart failure
• ISCHEMIA (2020) — using medicine can be just as good as putting small tubes in the heart for stable heart disease
• EMPEROR-Preserved (2021) — using a special kind of medicine for heart failure

Cardiology community

Cardiology has many groups and important people who help us learn more about the heart. Some big groups include the American Heart Association, European Society of Cardiology, and Heart Rhythm Society.

Many doctors have made big discoveries about the heart. For example, Christiaan Barnard did the first human heart transplant, and Willem Einthoven created a way to record the heart’s electricity. These experts help us understand and treat heart problems better.