The heart is one of the human body’s organs, but it is an organ that cannot be lived without. As a result, those whose jobs entail caring for the heart are entering a vital field that necessitates thorough training. Any of a number of trained professionals who provide medical care directly involving the heart is referred to as a heart specialist. Cardiovascular technician, cardiovascular technologist, cardiologist, and cardiac surgeon are the four main types of heart specialists.
Cardiovascular technicians perform electrocardiogram (EKG) stress testing and Holter monitor procedures, among other noninvasive tests. These tests are used in routine physical exams, to diagnose heart problems, and as a prelude to surgery. The stress test is a brief exercise performed on a treadmill while the heart is monitored using an EKG monitor. A Holter monitor records a patient’s heart activity for at least 24 hours during normal activity.
A cardiovascular technologist is a heart specialist who performs both invasive and non-invasive procedures. Echocardiography is a noninvasive procedure that uses ultrasound waves to create an image that can be used to assess heart function. Another non-invasive procedure used to assess blood flow is vascular sonography. Cardiovascular technologists perform invasive procedures such as cardiac catheterization.
Another type of heart specialist is a cardiologist. A cardiologist is a doctor who specializes in heart, artery, and vein diseases, which make up the cardiovascular system. Cardiologists are not surgically trained. Arrhythmia, cerebrovascular disease, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, heart attack or myocardial infarction, and hypertension are among the conditions they treat. They might also have specialized training in areas like echocardiography, electrophysiology, interventional cardiology, or nuclear cardiology.
Cardiologists can specialize in a number of different areas. A pediatric cardiologist, for example, is a physician who diagnoses and treats diseases and abnormalities of the heart in children and adolescents from birth to the age of eighteen. A nuclear cardiologist is a physician who uses radioactive materials in non-invasive procedures to treat patients.
A cardiac surgeon must complete one of the most extensive training programs of any medical specialty. Repairs of congenital heart defects, valve replacements, heart transplants, and coronary artery bypass are all procedures performed cardiac surgeons. The term “cardiothoracic surgeon” refers to a surgeon who specializes in both the heart and the lungs. Adult and pediatric cardiac surgeons are available, as well as those who specialize in a specific operation or procedure.