Consultation (Your Appointment)
A patient is usually referred to a cardiologist to determine whether he or she has a (1) normally functioning heart (2) a cardiovascular disorder, or (3) is at risk for future cardiovascular events.
We encourage patients to understand how the normal heart works and read about heart conditions, investigations, preventive strategies and therapeutic options that may be relevant to them.
The cardiology consultation is the cornerstone of clinical evaluation and management and begins with a patient interview, physical examination and interpretation of investigations leading to diagnosis and treatment.
Non-invasive cardiology investigations may be required to confirm a diagnosis, assess the severity of the condition, determine the underlying cause and monitor response to treatment.
Treatment may involve preventive measures and lifestyle changes (including exercise and healthy eating) and pharmaceutical drugs. If indicated, some patients may be referred for specific interventional cardiology procedures or cardiac surgery.
Any information about the patient’s medical history, previous investigations, and medications should be available for the cardiologist to review at the time of the appointment. At the end of one or two consultations a cardiology report is provided for the referring physician and the patient.
Emotional problems (depression and anxiety), lack of sleep, inadequate exercise, poor nutrition and substance abuse may sometimes be the cause of symptoms or be associated with heart disease. If present, these conditions should be recognized and managed. Severe depression associated with heart disease should be co-managed with a psychiatrist.
Click the links below to visit our Patient Library and read more about common heart diseases:
- Your heart (how the heart works)
- Your blood pressure and hypertension
- Coronary artery disease
- Valvular heart disease
- Heart failure
- Arrhythmias
