Cardiology Consultation

Why Is a Cardiology Consultation Important?

Cardiology (also known as cardiovascular medicine) focuses on diagnosing and treating different heart conditions. Cardiovascular consultation is the most crucial part of medical diagnosis and treatment. The consultation is typically requested by your family doctor or other specialists to use the expertise of a cardiologist to evaluate your condition and for confirmation. Cardiology consultations also help in the early detection of health conditions that could lead to heart problems. 

Additionally, a cardiology consultation also helps in knowing and understanding the treatment plans, including pre and post-operative preparations, complications, and any risks involved with your surgery.

What Is Involved in a Cardiology Consultation?

When you come in for your cardiology consultation at Reading Cardiology Associates, our doctors will perform a thorough physical examination, evaluate your symptoms and medical history and conduct diagnostic tests for an accurate diagnosis. Your doctor will also ask you about your surgical history, any medications you might be taking, your profession, lifestyle habits, and the nature of your job to check if it is associated with the risk of heart problems. Your weight, height measurements, and blood pressure will also be taken.

A cardiology consultation aims to determine the strength of your heart and whether it can withstand any physical stress during surgery. It also helps to decide whether you risk developing complications during surgery.  

If you have your pacemaker or implanted defibrillator, your cardiologist can evaluate them during your cardiology consultation. 

When you get an early diagnosis, you can minimise complications and prevent further progression of your condition. 

Diagnostic tests include and are not limited to:

• Blood tests
• Urinalysis
• Cardiac angiography 
• Pulmonary function test
• Chest X-ray
• Stress test
• Echocardiography 
• Electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG)

Based on your test results and the information obtained during your cardiology consultation, your cardiologist at Reading Cardiology Associates can be able to determine if you can be cleared to proceed with any surgical procedure. If you are not in optimal cardiac health, your cardiologist may take other measures to deal with your condition. 

Your cardiologist may also recommend lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight, cholesterol-reducing medication, smoking cessation, and limiting or avoiding alcohol consumption.

If your cardiologist has diagnosed you with coronary artery disease, they may recommend coronary revascularisation through angioplasty, coronary artery bypass grafting, cardiac rehabilitation, or other surgical procedures. 

Results of your cardiology consultation vary from person to person, and you may find out you need to continue your healthy lifestyle or require an immediate treatment plan.

Am I a good candidate for a cardiology consultation?

You can go for a cardiology consultation even if you do not have a heart condition as a preventative measure especially when you are getting older. Regular cardiology consultations help monitor and check your heart for any changes or irregularities that can cause harm to your health. It is recommended to go for a periodic consultation because heart conditions typically do not show any obvious symptoms. Cardiology consultations are also necessary for: 

• Patients displaying certain symptoms like chest pain, breathing difficulties, or fatigue need a cardiology consultation as a preventative measure for heart disease.
• Patients with cardiovascular conditions have progressed and need immediate medical attention.
• Patients with a family history of heart disease require secondary preventative measures.
• Those with a family history of heart disease, and may have presented risk factors.
• Those with high cholesterol, gum disease, stroke, diabetes, or smokers.
• Pregnant women with preeclampsia are at high risk of heart conditions.
• Those with heart disease and who want new exercise programs.
• Abnormal electrocardiogram (EKG) results.
• Menopausal women.
• High-risk surgical procedures include thoracic surgery, head and neck surgery, kidney transplant, aortic surgery, or lower extreme vascularisationtion. 
• Patients undergoing procedures that might cause significant blood loss.

To schedule a comprehensive cardiology consultation or for more information about our services, call Reading Cardiology Associates or schedule an appointment online.