Cardiologists begin the examination by interviewing patients about their symptoms. The cardiologist is also interested in the patient’s lifestyle and any medications they are taking.
Next, a focused physical examination is conducted, along with an ECG and echocardiography. These tests provide insight into the patient’s heart condition. The cardiologist may request additional tests, such as a stress test or a 24-hour Holter ECG and/or blood pressure monitoring.
After completing the diagnostics, medication therapy (medications) is recommended, and the patient may be advised on specific lifestyle changes if needed. Long-term monitoring of the patient is very important, as is assessing the effectiveness of the prescribed therapy. Therefore, it is essential to have a plan for follow-up cardiological examinations. If necessary, the cardiologist may refer the patient to an interventional cardiologist or a cardiac surgeon for further evaluations or potential diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.