Cardiology Clinics in Turkey

What is a Cardiologist?

A cardiologist is a medical professional who diagnoses and treats diseases of the heart and blood vessels, often working within cardiology clinics. This field encompasses a wide range of subspecialties, each focusing on different aspects of heart health. These include:

• Clinical Cardiologists, who manage overall heart health and heart disease.
• Heart Failure Specialists, focusing on treating heart failure.
• Interventional Cardiologists, who perform procedures like angioplasties.
• Cardio-Oncologists, experts in heart conditions related to cancer treatment.
• Congenital Heart Specialists, who treat heart defects present from birth.
• Cardiac Imaging Specialists, using imaging technologies to diagnose heart issues.
• Peripheral Interventional Cardiologists, addressing diseases in peripheral blood vessels.
• Preventive Cardiologists, aiming to prevent heart disease before it starts.
• Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialists, helping patients recover after heart issues.
• Electrophysiologists, focusing on the heart’s electrical system.
• Geriatric Cardiologists, specializing in heart care for the elderly.
• Cardio-Rheumatologists, who deal with heart diseases linked to rheumatic conditions.
• Sports Cardiologists, addressing heart conditions in athletes.
• Critical Care Cardiologists, providing heart care in intensive care settings.

Each type of cardiologist plays a vital role in the comprehensive care of patients with heart-related conditions, offering specialized expertise based on the patient’s specific needs.

Services Provided by Cardiology Clinics

Cardiologists conduct a detailed review of patients’ medical histories and perform comprehensive physical examinations, evaluating factors such as weight, heart function, lung health, blood pressure, and vascular conditions. This assessment is complemented by pertinent diagnostic tests.

Specializing in advanced cardiovascular interventions, the interventional cardiologists specialize in performing intricate procedures. These procedures include angioplasties, stenting, valvuloplasties, corrections for congenital heart defects, and coronary thrombectomies.

Some of the primary services of a cardiology clinic include:

Cath Lab Procedures

• Utilizing cath lab equipment, which provides cardiologists with insight into the heart’s condition.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) which is an operation that provides records of the heart’s electrical activity.

Ambulatory ECG

• Monitors heart rhythms during daily activities using small metal electrodes connected to a Holter monitor.

Exercise Test (Stress Test)

• Evaluates changes in heart rhythm during rest and exercise, measuring heart performance and limitations.

Echocardiogram

• Produces ultrasound images detailing the heart’s structure, function, and blood-pumping capacity.
• Identifies inflammation (pericarditis), structural abnormalities, or infections of heart valves.

Cardiac Catheterization

• Involves a catheter to collect data, potentially alleviating blockages, capturing images, and assessing heart function.
• Catheter-based techniques address congenital cardiac, valvular, and coronary artery diseases.

Nuclear Cardiology

• Utilizes radioactive materials for noninvasive imaging to study cardiovascular disorders.
• Techniques such as planar imaging, infarction imaging, myocardial perfusion imaging, and single-photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT).

Cardiac Electrophysiology

• Focuses on electric currents in the heart muscle, their propagation, and associated patterns.
• Electrophysiology study (EPS) which involves catheter-guided measurements of heart electrical signals.
• Helps diagnose symptoms, determine pacemaker necessity, decide treatment for arrhythmias, and assess the likelihood of tachycardia.
• Cardiac electrophysiology provides treatments such as cardiac ablation, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, and pacemakers, based on the findings of thorough assessments and diagnostic tests.

When patients see a cardiolog, they may participate in a detailed risk assessment that may consists of:

• An interview session about the patient’s lifestyle habits, family health history, symptoms and quality of life.
• A body fat measurement.
• A physical check-up.
• Laboratory tests such as blood tests and tests to find out if there are inherited risk factors for heart disease.
• Other tests of risk factors for heart attack.

Common Treatments Offered at Cardiology Clinics

Cardiologists offer treatments for a wide range of heart and blood vessel problems, such as:

• Atherosclerosis.
• High blood pressure.
• High cholesterol.
• Angina (chest pain).
• Sudden cardiac arrest.
• Heart failure.
• Heart attack.
• Blood clots.
• Atrial fibrillation and other heart rhythm disorders.
• Endocarditis.
• Cardiogenic shock.
• Heart valve problems.
• Heart abnormalities.
• Cardiomyopathy.
• Myocarditis.
• Congenital (from birth) conditions.
• Problems with the aorta (aneurysm, stenosis).
• Problems with the arteries such as renal artery disease, peripheral artery disease, coronary artery disease, and subclavian artery disease.
• Heart stroke.

When to Visit a Cardiology Clinic?

If a person has symptoms that can indicate a heart problem, they should visit a cardiology clinic. The most common symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Chest pains
• Changes in heart rate or rhythm
• High blood pressure

Cardiologists usually treat patients who have had a heart failure, heart attack, or other heart- related problems. They can perform treatment operations such as heart surgery, heart catheterization, and angioplasty or stenting.

Some of the heart diseases that a cardiologist can treat include:

• Atherosclerosis
• Atrial fibrillation
• Arrhythmias
• Congenital heart disease
• Coronary heart disease
• Congestive heart disease
• High blood cholesterol and triglycerides
• Hypertension
• Pericarditis
• Ventricular tachycardia
• High blood pressure, or hypertension.

However, it is also possible that a person may need to go to a cardiology clinic even without any symptoms. If a person has family members that have a heart disease or high cholesterol, they are a smoker, or they have diabetes, they should see a cardiolog to examine their heart health.

What to Expect from the Cardiologist?

During the consultation with a cardiologist, a thorough physical examination will be conducted, with a specific focus on auscultating your heart. This allows the cardiologist to assess blood flow within the patient’s heart and identify any irregular heart rhythms.

Patients should be prepared to provide detailed information about their family history and personal medical history. The cardiologist will ask about any heart-related issues among your siblings, parents, or other family members. This information is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of potential heart problems.

If the clinic is well-equipped, an electrocardiogram (ECG) may be performed for a rapid assessment of your heart’s rhythm. Additionally, there may be arrangements for further tests that necessitate specialized scanning machines typically available only in hospital settings. The cardiologist will guide you through the process, ensuring a thorough and precise evaluation of your cardiovascular health.