The branch of medicine that deals with the cardiovascular system.

Cardiologists deal with the heart, treating conditions such as angina pectoris, heart attacks a.k.a. myocardial infarction (well, the patients who survive), heart failure, endocarditis, heart valvular disease, cardiomyopathy, congenital heart defects and so on.

There are two subspecialties within cardiology.

Invasive cardiology includes cardiac catherization, angioplasty, valvuloplasty, atherectomies, and restenosis. The first two are probably the most common procedures performed.

Non-Invasive cardiology does not involve penetration into the body. While a technician can perform a procedure, only the cardiologist is qualified to interpret the results and determine an appropriate diagnosis.

Typical procedures are:

An invasive cardiologist typically has an annual salary that is higher than an invasive cardiologist due mainly to the risk of a patient dying during the operation, as every invasive procedure has a risk.

Car`di*ol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. heat + -ology.]

The science which treats of the heart and its functions.

 

© Webster 1913.

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