Cardiology is the specialty that looks at the heart and blood vessels. Heart consists of four chambers, which are responsible for pumping blood to lungs and then the rest of your body. The study of the heart includes the heart muscle (the myocardium), the valves within the heart between the chambers, the blood vessels that supply blood (and hence oxygen and nutrients) to the heart muscle, and the electrical system of the heart which is what controls the heart rate.
Common Conditions / Procedures / Treatments
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
An ECG is a recording of heart's electrical activity.
Electrode patches are attached to skin to measure the electrical impulses given off by heart. The result is a trace that can be read by a doctor. It can give information of previous heart attacks or problems with the heart rhythm. Depending on history, examination and ECG, people are recommended to have other tests.
Exercise ECG
An ECG done when resting may be normal even when you have cardiovascular disease. During an exercise ECG the heart is made to work harder so that if there is any narrowing of the blood vessels resulting in poor blood supply it is more likely to be picked up on the tracing as heart goes faster.
Blood Tests
You are likely to have blood tests done before coming to clinic to check your cholesterol level and looking for evidence of diabetes. some blood tests are done "fasting" which means you have the blood taken in the morning on an empty stomach before breakfast...
Echocardiogram
Echocardiography is also referred to as cardiac ultrasound. This test is performed by a specially trained technician.
Coronary Angiogram
This test is performed by a cardiologist in a sterile operating theatre environment. Most people will need to have routine tests before the procedure. (Will commence by OCT 08 in MH).
Cardiovascular Disease
This refers to narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle.
Heart Failure
Heart failure refers to the heart failing to pump efficiently. There are many diseases that cause this including cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, viral infections, alcohol, and diseases affecting the valves of the heart. When the heart is inefficient a number of symptoms occur depending on the cause and severity. of the condition. The main symptoms are tiredness, breathlessness on exertion or lying flat, and ankle swelling. Doctors often refer to oedema, which means fluid retention usually in feet or lungs as a result of the heart not pumping efficiently.
Tests for possible causes of heart failure include:-
Chest X-ray
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Echocardiogram (Cardiac ultrasound)
Angiogram
Cardiac Arrhythmias
Our heart rate is controlled by a complex electrical system within the heart muscle which drives it to go faster when you exert yourself and slower when you rest. A number of conditions can affect the heart rate or rhythm. Heart rate simply refers to how fast our heart is beating. Heart rhythm refers to the electrical source that is driving the heart rate and whether or not it is regular or irregular.
Valve Disease
Our heart consists of 4 chambers that receive and send blood to the lungs and body. Disorders affecting valves can either cause stenosis (a narrowing) or regurgitation (leakage after the valve has closed). Depending on what valve is involved and how severe the damage is, may result in symptoms of heart failure ,as it makes the heart pump inefficiently.
An ECG is a recording of heart's electrical activity.
Electrode patches are attached to skin to measure the electrical impulses given off by heart. The result is a trace that can be read by a doctor. It can give information of previous heart attacks or problems with the heart rhythm. Depending on history, examination and ECG, people are recommended to have other tests.
An ECG done when resting may be normal even when you have cardiovascular disease. During an exercise ECG the heart is made to work harder so that if there is any narrowing of the blood vessels resulting in poor blood supply it is more likely to be picked up on the tracing as heart goes faster.
You are likely to have blood tests done before coming to clinic to check your cholesterol level and looking for evidence of diabetes. some blood tests are done "fasting" which means you have the blood taken in the morning on an empty stomach before breakfast... 
Heart failure refers to the heart failing to pump efficiently. There are many diseases that cause this including cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, viral infections, alcohol, and diseases affecting the valves of the heart. When the heart is inefficient a number of symptoms occur depending on the cause and severity. of the condition. The main symptoms are tiredness, breathlessness on exertion or lying flat, and ankle swelling. Doctors often refer to oedema, which means fluid retention usually in feet or lungs as a result of the heart not pumping efficiently.
Our heart rate is controlled by a complex electrical system within the heart muscle which drives it to go faster when you exert yourself and slower when you rest. A number of conditions can affect the heart rate or rhythm. Heart rate simply refers to how fast our heart is beating. Heart rhythm refers to the electrical source that is driving the heart rate and whether or not it is regular or irregular.
Our heart consists of 4 chambers that receive and send blood to the lungs and body. Disorders affecting valves can either cause stenosis (a narrowing) or regurgitation (leakage after the valve has closed). Depending on what valve is involved and how severe the damage is, may result in symptoms of heart failure ,as it makes the heart pump inefficiently.
