What is Clinical Cardiology?
Cardiology is a specialty of internal medicine which deals with disorders of the heart and the blood circulatory system. Clinical Cardiology, sometimes also called General Cardiology, refers to consultation, examination and testing of patients to allow diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. Although most kinds of heart disease can be managed by a general cardiologist some patients may require sub-specialty cardiology assessment and intervention. In these circumstances a general cardiologist may refer the patient to the required sub-specialist cardiologist.
A patient who is suspected of having heart disease will often be referred to see a general cardiologist for their primary cardiology consultation, testing and if necessary follow-up care.
Who needs to see a Clinical or General Cardiologist?
Someone with symptoms of possible heart disease, such as chest pain, palpitations, fainting, swollen legs, stifling when lying flat or shortness of breath on exertion, should consider seeing a general cardiologist.