The cardiologist is a doctor specializing in heart and vascular diseases. In which cases to consult it? How to choose it well? Is the consultation reimbursed?

What is a cardiologist?

The cardiologist is the doctor who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the heart and blood vessels. With the establishment of the coordinated care pathway, only the attending physician can refer a patient to a cardiologist. In this context, the consultation will be reimbursed by Social Security.

What is cardiology?

The cardiology is a specialized medical discipline in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

When to see a cardiologist?

It is the attending physician who can decide to refer his patient to a cardiologist. Indeed, for some people called “at risk”, it is necessary to regularly monitor the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system. It’s the case for:

• Diabetics,
• Victims of arterial hypertension or hypercholesterolemia,
• People who are overweight,

It is also useful to consult a cardiologist before certain surgical interventions (preoperative assessment), when resuming sport after 45 years in a rather sedentary man or woman and in the event of intensive sports practice (for example half-marathon, marathon).

What happens during a consultation?

During a consultation, the cardiologists always begins by questioning the patient in order to know his personal and family history. He also tries to know if he feels any discomfort such as shortness of breath, palpitations, pain in the chest during exertion or at rest. The cardio care doctor also takes note of the patient’s latest medical examinations, in particular his blood tests. Then he proceeds to auscultation. For this, he takes the peripheral pulse (arms and feet) and the arterial pressure in both arms, auscultates the lungs, searches for the presence of a possible heart murmur or heart failure, thanks to the realization of rest.