A cardiologist is a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases and conditions of the cardiovascular system, which includes the heart, blood vessels, and circulatory system. They are essentially the experts for your heart health.

Cardiologists undergo extensive training after medical school, typically involving:

• Four years of medical school
• Three years of residency in internal medicine
• Three or more years of fellowship in cardiology

This rigorous training allows them to manage a wide range of heart conditions, including:

• Coronary artery disease
• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats)
• Heart valve disease
• Congenital heart defects (heart defects present at birth)
• Cardiomyopathy (weakened heart muscle)
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD)

Some cardiologists also specialize in specific areas of cardiology, such as:

• Electrophysiology: Specializes in the heart’s electrical system and arrhythmias.
• Interventional cardiology: Uses minimally invasive procedures to treat heart conditions.
• Echocardiography: Uses ultrasound to image the heart.
• Cardiac surgery: While not technically cardiologists, cardiac surgeons perform operations on the heart and blood vessels.