Cardiology

Time to See a Cardiologist

Are you wondering if it’s time to see a cardiologist — a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating heart disease?

Often patients have symptoms that raise a warning flag. They include:

• Family history of heart disease
• Shortness of breath
• Palpitations
• High blood pressure
• Dizziness
• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Heart pain
• Peripheral arterial disease, or PAD, in the legs
• High cholesterol

When your family doctor sees these signs, often they will make a recommendation to see a cardiologist. A cardiologist has received specialized training and education on the heart and is knowledgeable about testing, medicines, and procedures to address cardiac conditions. Cardiologists will also work with other medical specialists to come up with the best treatment plan to address your particular health needs.

The cardiology specialists at Deborah Specialty Physicians have years of experience delivering excellent cardiac care. With consistently good outcomes for their patients, access to the latest technology and clinical research trials, and being highly recommended by community members, these high caliber physicians ensure that you will receive superior cardiac care close to home.

If your primary care physician recommends a cardiologist, you can remain confident that Deborah Specialty Physicians will deliver outstanding care.

Second Opinions

Sometimes patients have already been referred to, and have seen, a cardiologist.

If you have a complex medical condition, or you are not responding to your current treatment, or you simply want to confirm the recommended treatment plan, it might be time for a second opinion.

Every patient has the right to be thoroughly informed about his or her care. A second opinion can provide a critical informational link from a provider who specializes in your condition and who has experience in delivering care. Another opinion can help you fully understand what you going through and can help you properly evaluate if you are following the right treatment for you.

Before seeking a second opinion, double-check with your insurance, make sure you bring all your medical records for review, and decide if you are looking for someone to confirm your current treatment plan, or if you are seeking new options. This will help the new cardiologist you meet with when evaluating your needs.

Cardiology Services

The Deborah Specialty Physician cardiology offices cover a wide range of diagnosis and treatment for acute and chronic heart disease, including:

• Congenital and acquired heart disease
  For patients with conditions they were born with and which they developed over time
• Coronary artery disease
  Hardening, narrowing, and clogging of the arteries
• Arrhythmias
  Irregular heart beat rhythms, too fast or too slow
• Valvular and myocardial disease
  Disease that affects the heart and valves
• Cardiomyopathy
  Enlarged, thick, and rigid heart muscle
• Hypertensive heart disease
  Heart disease caused by high blood pressure
• Heart failure
  When the heart does not pump blood properly
• Disorders of the coronary and non-coronary circulatory systems
  Disease that affects the body’s blood vessels
• Myocardial function
  Overall heart care that can help prevent a heart attack
• Rheumatic heart disease
  Heart valve damage caused by rheumatic fever

Testing and Treatment

During a visit with a Deborah Specialty Physician cardiologist, you will receive an electrocardiogram, or ECG. This test shows your heart’s electrical activity, abnormal rhythms, and sometimes if there is muscle damage. Based on this test and a comprehensive cardiac physical, your cardiologist will determine the next steps.

Additional testing that could be ordered includes:

• An exercise stress test
• An echocardiogram
• A catheterization
• An MRI
• A CT scan
• Holter and event monitoring
• Nuclear stress testing

Some of this testing can be done in the cardiologist’s office, and some of it needs to be performed at a hospital, or other testing facility. The results of your testing will determine your treatment course.

Depending on the severity of your condition treatment could include:

• Lifestyle modifications, including exercise, changes in diet, quitting smoking
• medications that are often effective in managing high blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart arrhythmias
• Minimally-invasive procedures including placement of a stent to open a block artery, a pacemaker or ablation to help manage heart rhythm, or clearing of plaque in arteries
• Surgery when necessary to replace a valve or bypass a blockage in the heart

Deborah Specialty Physicians works closely with all the area hospitals and major insurance companies to ensure that you receive the proper testing and any procedures or surgeries needed to address your specific health condition.

Additional Resources

Understanding your particular cardiac condition, and finding the right cardiologist or Hospital for your care is critically important. There are numerous resources to help you in your search.

• American Heart Association
• American Diabetes Association
• American College of Cardiology
• Hospital Compare

Offices are located in Burlington, Galloway, Manahawkin, Mt. Laurel, and Whiting.