Cardiologist: Definition & What They Treat

A cardiologist is a physician specialized in diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases of the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular system).

Training Pathway

• Medical school (MD/DO) — 4 years
• Internal medicine residency — 3 years
• Cardiology fellowship — 3+ years (general + optional subspecialty)
• Board certification (ABIM/ABIM-CV)

Conditions Treated

• Coronary Artery Disease: Angina, MI, ischemia.
• Heart Failure: HFrEF, HFpEF, cardiomyopathies.
• Arrhythmias: AFib, SVT, VT, bradycardia, channelopathies.
• Valvular Heart Disease: Stenosis, regurgitation.
• Hypertension: Resistant, secondary causes.
• Lipid Disorders: Familial hypercholesterolemia, statin intolerance.
• Congenital Heart Disease: Adult congenital (ACHD).
• Pericardial/Myocardial Disease: Pericarditis, myocarditis.
• Vascular: Aortic aneurysm/dissection, PAD (often with vascular medicine).

Procedures & Tools

• Non-invasive: Echo, stress testing, Holter, cardiac CT/MRI.
• Invasive: Cardiac catheterization, coronary angiography, PCI (stent), electrophysiology study/ablation, device implantation (pacemaker, ICD, CRT), TAVR, MitraClip.
• Preventive: Risk assessment, lifestyle counseling, pharmacotherapy.

Subspecialties

Interventional, Electrophysiology, Heart Failure/Transplant, Imaging, Adult Congenital, Preventive, Cardio-Oncology.

Cardiologists are central to cardiovascular health across the lifespan.