Cardiology

A cardiologist is an internist who has specialized training in the diagnosis and management of diseases which affect the heart and blood vessels. All cardiologists will have basic training in the recognition and treatment of these diseases using noninvasive techniques such as stress testing, ultrasound and nuclear techniques. A large number will also have the ability to perform cardiac catheterization, including performing balloon angioplasty and the placement of stents for occlusion in the arteries to the heart, as well as other organs. At times, cardiologists may refer patients for advanced procedures, including open heart surgery. 

A heart attack refers to the death of heart muscle tissue caused by a sudden arterial blockage, which is usually the formation of a clot on top of a pre-existing buildup of cholesterol, called a plaque. The most common symptoms associated are chest, arm and neck pain. Current technology allows the re-opening of blocked arteries to preserve heart muscle and thereby heart function. It is therefore imperative that medical help be sought as soon as chest pain and associated symptoms occur.

Cholesterol is a fatty substance in the blood which is deposited within the arteries, producing progressive obstruction to many different organs, particularly the heart. Cholesterol has two components, HDL (good) and LDL (bad). The total numbers and the relationship of these components determine their predisposition to the development of plaques within the arteries to your heart. Triglycerides are another fat which exists within your body and their elevation can result in the formation of the worst type of cholesterol and fat particles. A lipid profile allows us to examine all of these components in detail. 

Nuclear cardiology is a technique for noninvasive evaluation of the heart, usually related to assessment for coronary artery disease and the pumping function of the heart. It is most commonly associated with stress testing, either exercise or with medication. With the use of Cardiolite, which is a common form of what we call perfusing agents, given with exercise and at rest, we are able to assess if any coronary artery blockages are present and how significant they are. We are also able to determine the pumping function of the heart at rest and following exercise. The radiation exposure involved is not felt to be a cause for concern. 

The heart has four valves within it that control blood flow, two on the right and two on the left. Most common adult valve problems arise from those on the left side of the heart, called the aortic valve and mitral valve. These valves can either develop narrowing or stenosis or leak significantly. Abnormalities of the heart valves can present in various ways, including chest pain, passing out, shortness of breath, irregularities or arrhythmias of the heart. Diagnostic techniques used for evaluation include echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. Both mechanical or tissue valves can be used as part of surgery and more and more technical repairs are possible, particularly of the mitral valve.