You probably already know that cardiologists help in managing complications of the heart. Ideally, they rank as some of the most famous specialists in the field of medicine. Learn more about the cardiologist clinic near you who provide ct coronary angiogram on this page: https://sunriseheart.com.sg/surgeries-and-procedures/.
Now, the simplest definition of a cardiologist you may want to see at a Seng Kang clinic is a medical professional whose primary work is diagnosing and treating heart disorders using the proper techniques and medications. It doesn’t end there, though. A fully qualified cardiologist at any accredited Seng Kang clinic can also help you with a plethora of interventions on your heart arteries.
Now, these interventions are mostly done through puncturing wounds in your groin area. You shouldn’t confuse this with heart surgery, though.
Cardiologists do not receive training in heart surgery, so they do not perform heart surgeries. Therefore, if your condition requires actual heart surgery, you can expect your cardiologist at the Seng Kang clinic to refer you to other medical professionals with special training on such procedures for treatment.
The specialists, in this case, are known as cardiac surgeons. Do note that even though cardiologists do not perform heart surgeries, there are several other specialized procedures they can perform to help you manage the heart problem that’s troubling you or reduce your risks of heart disease.
For example, if you are referred to an interventional cardiologist for clogged arteries, the cardiologist you will meet at the Seng Kang clinic may use stents to help you in opening those clogged arteries. Besides, if your diagnosis report indicates that you have heart disorders that can be managed without a major heart surgery; the cardiologist may also put specialized devices in your heart to manage the disorders.
It doesn’t end there still; a qualified cardiologist at an accredited Seng Kang clinic near you can also perform specialized procedures aimed at correcting heart rhythm issues. For example, they can perform ablation procedures to help you manage the complications or recommend the use of pacemakers and defibrillators such as heartsine defibrillator, zoll defibrillator etc to prevent your condition from worsening or bring it under control.
Now, when you are scheduled to meet a cardiologist at a reputed Seng Kang clinic near you, you can almost always expect your meeting, to begin with, the heart doctor inquiring about your medical and family medical history. They will also ask about your symptoms and how they manifest themselves regarding factors like intensity and how long they last.
These basic questions help the cardiologist establish a medium ground for learning about the potential heart issues troubling you. Ideally, since your cardiologist is a specialist in cardiovascular complications, they can effectively address several conditions ranging from heart rhythm issues to abnormally high cholesterol levels and hypertension.
How Cardiologists Differ from Cardiac Surgeons
The primary similarity between cardiologists and cardiac surgeons is that both of them are medical doctors that focus on the issues of the heart. Now, the difference comes in the nature of training these doctors receive.
After completing a medical school training program, both the cardiologists and cardiac surgeons must complete a surgical residency program that runs for about five years. After completing this residency program, cardiac surgeons complete another training that may run for around 2 to 4 years where they fully specialize in the field of cardiac surgery.
Importantly, during this program, they also learn the nitty-gritty details of operating the organs in your chest and the upper abdomen. Some examples of the organ they learn to operate include the lungs, pulmonary artery and the heart.
Ideally, those extra years in training that the cardiac surgeons receive best explain why cardiac surgeons can perform heart surgeries while cardiologists are not ethically allowed to perform heart surgeries. Do note that even though the fields of specialization of these specialist doctors vary slightly, both groups have to be licensed to offer treatments in Singapore.
Besides, their facilities should also be accredited. Accreditation of the Seng Kang clinic, where you may want to see your cardiologist offers you extra proof that the facility and providers meet the required health standards to provide safe treatments.
Both of these doctors also get board certification. Board certification in this case also gives you confidence knowing that the doctor is not only fully trained and qualified but has also put in extra effort to ensure your safety. Therefore, as a basic rule, if you’re looking to work with either a cardiologist or cardiac surgeon, check to ensure that their Seng Kang clinic is not only accredited but they are also board certified.
When to See a Cardiac Surgeon vs. Cardiologist
You can always get a referral letter from your General Practitioner, the GP, to see a cardiologist. On the other hand, you can also always get a referral letter from your cardiologist clinic in Seng Kang to see a cardiac surgeon.
The conditions that your cardiac surgeon can help you manage include; coronary artery blockage, heart valve disease, aortic aneurysms, heart failure, and irregular heartbeat, also known as heart arrhythmia. Now, you will typically need to see a cardiac surgeon if your cardiologist at the Seng Kang clinic recommends an appointment with one.
This will be after the cardiologist has diagnosed your condition and determined that surgery is necessary for your treatment. That typically means that you will most likely only need to see a cardiac surgeon if you need cardiac surgery.
This is because a cardiologist can help you manage most heart conditions that can be treated with minimally invasive procedures or medications. Now, when it comes to seeing a cardiologist, the first common instance would be to schedule an appointment with the heart doctor if your GP recommends that you see one.
You should see a cardiologist if you develop symptoms or notice changes in your system, which may indicate a heart attack or disease or an impending heart attack. Some of the common symptoms you will need to keep a keen eye on in this case include; chest pains and shoulder pains, sexual function difficulties for men, irregular heartbeat, sore or swollen gums, puffy feet, shortness of breath, dizziness, and persistent coughs. Some of the diseases your cardiologist can treat include heart attacks, heart failure, valve problems and arrhythmias etc.
Find the Right Doctor
Do you think a cardiologist or cardiac surgeon would be right for you? Contact our healthcare team now to schedule an appointment. We’ll help you with accurate diagnosis so you can know whether proceeding with treatments at a cardiologist or cardiac surgery clinic would be best for you.
Sunrise Heart Clinic – Cardiologist, Heart Screening, Heart Specialist
365 Sembawang Cres, #01-02, Singapore 750365
+65 6235 1137