Cardiology

Cardiology is a specialized field of medicine that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of both acute and chronic conditions that affect the heart and its blood vessels, i.e., cardiovascular diseases.

Common Diagnostic Procedures in Cardiology

• Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG)
  A quick, painless test that records the heart’s electrical activity. It’s routinely used to detect arrhythmias, heart attacks, monitor pacemakers, or evaluate symptoms like chest pain, dizziness, or palpitations. Portable options like Holter monitors allow extended rhythm tracking over 24 to 48 hours or longer.

• Echocardiogram (Echo)
  A noninvasive ultrasound that provides moving images of the heart’s chambers, valves, and blood flow. It helps assess heart function, valve problems, congenital heart defects, and conditions like cardiomyopathy or heart failure.

• Stress Echocardiography
  Combines echocardiography with physical exercise or medication to evaluate how the heart performs under stress. It is used to identify signs of coronary artery disease that may not be apparent at rest.

• Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE)
  A specialized type of echocardiogram where the probe is passed down the esophagus to get clearer images of heart structures. It’s useful for detecting blood clots, infections of the heart valves, congenital abnormalities, or aortic conditions.

• Cardiac CT and MRI
  Advanced imaging techniques that provide detailed pictures of the heart and surrounding vessels. These scans help visualize coronary arteries, assess chamber size and muscle tissue, and detect structural or congenital abnormalities without the need for invasive procedures.
  
  

   Treatments in Cardiology

      Medical Treatment

  • Cardiac Rehabilitation and Risk Reduction
    Structured programs that include monitored exercise, dietary guidance, lifestyle modification, and medication support to improve heart health, manage conditions like hypertension and hyperlipidemia and reduce the risk of future cardiovascular events.
    
    

      Interventional Treatment

  • Cardiac Catheterization & Coronary Angiography
    A minimally invasive procedure where a catheter is inserted through the wrist or groin to examine coronary arteries, measure heart pressures, and guide further treatment planning.

  • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (Angioplasty & Stenting)
    A procedure used to open narrowed or blocked arteries. It involves inflating a small balloon and, often, placing a stent to keep the artery open and improve blood flow.

  • Cardiac Ablation 
    A catheter-based treatment that targets areas of heart tissue causing abnormal electrical signals. It’s commonly used to manage arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation or supraventricular tachycardia.

  • Transcatheter Valve Repair or Replacement
    Minimally invasive procedures like balloon valvuloplasty or transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) used to treat valve narrowing or dysfunction without open-heart surgery.

  • Cardiac Device Implantation
    Insertion of devices such as pacemakers or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) to help manage abnormal heart rhythms and prevent sudden cardiac arrest.