Some people have the impression that only patients with heart problems should consult a cardiologist. Now, this is not always true because these specialist doctors offer both preventive and curative medicinal service. Before discussing the services offered by cardiologists in Sydney and elsewhere, it makes sense to understand what a cardiologist is.
Understanding Cardiology
First off, cardiology is a branch of internal medicine. Cardiology is concerned with the study and treatment of disorders that affect the heart and blood vessels. An expert in cardiology is a cardiologist and this expert is an extremely well-trained and eminently qualified medical doctor.
How to Qualify as a Cardiologist
In most countries, becoming a qualified cardiologist takes a lot of time and effort but the long years of training always pay off at the end of the day. First, you study medicine and qualify as a medical doctor then you spend another three years studying internal medicine. After training as an expert in internal medicine, the next step is the specialist cardiology course. This takes a minimum of three years. In some cases, training to become a specialist cardiologist takes up to four years. Once you are through with this training, you are now a specialist cardiologist and you get licensed by the relevant regulatory body.
Duties of a Cardiologist
Among other duties, a Sydney city cardiologist carries out tests to determine if the heart and blood vessels are in good working order. Some of these tests include electrocardiogram (ECG OR EKG), ambulatory ECG and an exercise test. These tests help the cardiologist carry out an effective diagnosis. Once the cardiologist has made the right diagnosis, this expert goes ahead to treat the medical condition. Treatment in this context might include drugs, surgery or even lifestyle changes.
Preventative Cardiology
A smart Sydney city cardiologist will not wait for the patient’s condition to deteriorate before taking remedial measures. In fact, most experts in cardiology believe it makes more sense to prevent medical conditions than to cure them. For this reason, experienced cardiologists recommend the right lifestyle to their patients and give these patients specific “dos and don’ts”.
Tips for a Healthy Heart
Most heart specialists recommend a habit of moderate but regular exercise because this keeps the heart in good working order. In addition, heart experts advise people to stay away from smoking, fatty foods and stress. These three things are bad for the heat. Finally, experts in cardiology advise their patients to consults a competent doctor if they experience symptoms like chest pain, irregular heartbeats and persistent headache. These might be signs of heart disease and early treatment is vital to ensure a complete recovery.
