All the tissues and organs of our body must be nourished constantly in order to stay healthy and vital. This is ensured by the heart, which pumps blood throughout our body through the circulatory system. Along with the blood, oxygen and nutrients are delivered and carbon dioxide is removed. Cardiology is the branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of heart and vascular diseases. These may be various congenital defects or acquired heart conditions.

When might you need a cardiologist consultation?

 You are usually referred to a cardiologist by your family doctor if you experience symptoms such as:

• shortness of breath;
• cough;
• dizziness;
• weakness, fatigue;
• chest pain;
• nausea;
• heavy sweating;
• changes in heart rhythm;
• high blood pressure.

What examinations does a cardiologist perform?

 Cardiology is an advanced field of medicine that uses a wide range of diagnostic tools and equipment. To identify the cause of the symptoms, tests such as an electrocardiogram and cardiac echoscopy are performed, as well as weight and blood-pressure measurements. Our clinic also uses a modern bicycle-ergometry (veloergometry) device, which allows the heart’s function to be checked and physical-exertion tolerance to be determined. It can also be tried by patients who have no specific symptoms but simply want to check their indicators. This is especially relevant for people who do a lot of physical exercise.

What diseases can cardiology identify?

 After examining the patient, reviewing their medical history and analysing the test data, a cardiologist can diagnose certain diseases or conditions. The specialist helps make decisions about heart surgery, catheterisation, angioplasty or stenting. Here the time factor is very important. The sooner changes are detected, the sooner treatment can begin. The most common heart diseases diagnosed and treated by cardiology:

• high blood pressure;
• atherosclerosis;
• atrial fibrillation;
• arrhythmia;
• congenital heart disease;
• pericarditis;
• ventricular tachycardia;
• hypertension.

Can you see a cardiologist for preventive reasons?

 “Cardiology not only diagnoses diseases but also helps prevent them,” says cardiologist Alma Čypienė. If there have been cases of heart disease in your family, if your blood cholesterol level is elevated, you smoke heavily, have diabetes or are simply starting a new physical-activity programme, it may be useful to talk to a cardiologist even if you do not feel any unpleasant symptoms.