What Is Cardiology?

Cardiology (kar-dee-OL-uh-jee) is the medical specialty that diagnosis and treats diseases and problems of the cardiovascular system (the heart and blood vessels). 

What Is a Cardiologist?

A cardiologist (kar-dee-OL-uh-jist) is a doctor who diagnoses and treats medical problems that affect the heart and blood vessels.

Why Would Someone Need One?

Cardiologists provide care for people with problems such as:

• heart murmurs
• high cholesterol
• high blood pressure (hypertension)
• abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
• heart defects
• heart disease

They do medical tests and procedures such as:

• echocardiogram (“echo”)
• cardiac catheterization
• heart valve repair and replacement
• surgery to repair heart defects
• heart transplant

What Is Their Training?

Cardiologist training usually includes:

• 4 years of pre-medical education at a college or university
• 4 years of medical school — a medical degree (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) degree
• 3 years of training in a pediatric residency program
• 3 years of training in a pediatric cardiology fellowship. A “fellow” is a doctor who undergoes more specialty training after completing medical school and a residency.

They also might have:

• expertise in a subspecialty area (for example, focusing on heart transplants)

Good to Know

Doctors who might refer a baby or child to see a cardiologist include:

• obstetricians or maternal-fetal specialists
• neonatologists
• pediatricians