WHAT IS

CARDIOLOGY?
UNIT 9: CARDIOLOGY
Ma. Isabel C. Sandoval de Cortez
• At the end of this lesson students will be abe to identify
and name the parts of the heart.
• At the end of this lesson students will be able to identify
and practice vocabulary related to cardiac procedures.
• At the end of this lesson students will be able to explain
cardiac procedures.
• 2 UPPER CHAMBERS:
• LEFT ATRIUM
• RIGHT ATRIUM
• 2 LOWER CHAMBERS:
• RIGHT VENTRICLE
• LEFT VENTRICLE

CHAMBERS OF THE HEART

(4)
WALLS INSIDE THE HEART
VALVES OF THE HEART
MUSCULATURE OF THE
HEART
• Cardiology is the study and treatment of disorders of the
heart and the blood vessels. A person with heart disease
or cardiovascular disease may be referred to a
cardiologist.
• Cardiology is a branch of internal medicine. A
cardiologist is not the same as a cardiac surgeon. A
cardiac surgeon opens the chest and performs heart
surgery.
• A cardiologist specializes in diagnosing and treating
diseases of the cardiovascular system. The
cardiologist will carry out tests, and they may perform
some procedures, such as heart catheterizations,
angioplasty, or inserting a pacemaker.
• Heart disease relates specifically to the heart, while
cardiovascular disease affects the heart, the blood
vessels, or both.
 When should a patient see a
cardiologist?
• If a person has symptoms of a heart condition, their
physician may refer them to a cardiologist.

• Symptoms that can indicate a heart problem include:

• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Chest pains
• Changes in heart rate or rhythm
• High blood pressure
Examples of heart diseases that a cardiologist
can help with are:
• Atherosclerosis
• Atrial fibrillation
• Arrhythmias
• Congenital heart disease
• Coronary heart disease
• Congestive heart disease
• High blood cholesterol and triglycerides
• Hypertension
• Pericarditis
• Ventricular tachycardia
• High blood pressure, or hypertension
 What does cardiology involve?

• A cardiologist will review a patient’s medical

history and carry out a physical examination.

• They may check the person’s weight, heart,

lungs, blood pressure, and blood vessels, and
carry out some tests.

• An interventional cardiologist may carry out

procedures such as angioplasties, stenting,
valvuloplasties, congenital heart defect
corrections, and coronary thrombectomies.
Tests
 Electrocardiogram
• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): this records the electrical
activity of the heart.
Ambulatory ECG
• This records heart rhythms while the person carries out
exercise or their regular activities. Small metal electrodes are
stuck on to the chest, and these are connected by wires to a
Holter monitor, which records the rhythms.
 An exercise test, or
stress test:
This shows the changes of heart rhythm when resting and
exercising. It measures the performance and limitations of the
heart.
Echocardiogram:
• This provides an ultrasound picture that
shows the structure of the heart chambers
and surrounding areas, and it can show how
well the heart is working.
• Echocardiography can measure how well the heart is
pumping blood, known as cardiac output. It can detect
inflammation around the heart, known as pericarditis. It
can also identify structural abnormalities or infections
of the heart valves.
 Cardiac catheterization:

• A small tube in or near the heart

collects data and may help relieve a
blockage. It can take pictures and
check the functioning of the heart and
the electrical system. Catheter-based
techniques with fluoroscopy can be
used to treat congenital cardiac,
valvular, and coronary artery diseases.
Nuclear cardiology:
Nuclear imaging techniques use radioactive materials to study
cardiovascular disorders and diseases in a noninvasive way.
Examples are infarction imaging, single-photon-emission
computed tomography (SPECT), planar imaging, and myocardial
perfusion imaging.
Atherosclerosis
Arrhytmias
Atrial fibrillation
Congenital heart diseases
Coronary heart diseases
Congestive heart disease
High blood cholesterol
and triglycerides
Hypertension
Pericarditis
Ventricular tachycardia