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Cardiologists are specialists in the health and diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

If you have a problem with your heart or blood vessels, your doctor may refer you to a specialist in cardiology.

A cardiologist is an expert in the function of the heart and in finding, treating and preventing diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

After medical school, cardiologists spend three years training in internal medicine and then spend three or more years training in conditions specific to the heart.

Problems commonly treated by cardiologists include:

• Atherosclerosis (narrowing of the blood vessels because of fatty buildup).
• High blood pressure.
• Heart attack.
• Heart failure.
• Abnormal heart rhythms.

Cardiologists may also specialize in pediatrics. Pediatric cardiologists diagnose and treat heart problems in infants, children and teenagers.

For more information on cardiology and conditions that affect the heart, visit the following websites:

• American Heart Association.
• National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
• American College of Cardiology.

Reviewed 4/3/2024