General Cardiology
Coordinating your total heart care.
Experience the difference when it comes to heart care.
Overview
General cardiologists provide outstanding care for patients, from those at immediate risk to those with multiple, complex and chronic conditions. They educate you about your condition and help prevent, reverse or slow the progression of the disease. Among the conditions they treat are congenital heart defects, angina, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease, heart attacks and electrophysiology.
Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
Dyspnea is a healthcare term for shortness of breath, the sensation when you can’t get enough air into your lung. Signs of dyspnea include chest tightness, rapid breathing or heart rate or wheezing. Shortness of breath is often a symptom of heart and lung diseases, such as heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). If you experience dyspnea, see your doctor. Common treatments include exercise to strengthen your heart and lungs, relaxation techniques, medications to relax airways. If you smoke, stop.
Palpitations
Heart palpitations are a fluttering or racing sensation in your chest. They can be caused by stress, anxiety, exercise, or certain medications. While usually harmless, they can sometimes be a sign of an underlying heart condition. If you experience them frequently or along with other concerning symptoms, see a doctor.
Light headedness & dizziness
Lightheadedness/dizziness is not a disease. Instead, it is a symptom of another health condition, such as vertigo. However, dizziness may be a symptom of an underlying heart condition, such as an irregular heartbeat, heart attack, cardiomyopathy, or stroke. If your dizzy spells are becoming more frequent, severe, or prolonged, talk to your doctor, who may order testing to determine their cause.
FACTS
The top five questions to ask your cardiologist
Perhaps you’re going to the cardiologist because your physician recommended it. Or maybe you have a family history of heart disease, and you want to stay on top of it. Or you have high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, or both. Whatever your reasons — and there are many — the experts at St. Luke’s University Health Network provide you with some questions to ask. Bring them, along with any others, to have an informative visit.
Treatments
General adult cardiologists perform physical exams and order blood work and other tests to evaluate the heart’s health and function. These may include electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, stress tests, and heart MRIs. They can also help you make lifestyle changes, prescribe medications (such as cholesterol-lowering statins), recommend procedures, and refer you to specialists.
