What is Cardiology?
Cardiology is the branch of medicine that deals with heart and blood vessel health. It covers many conditions, from heart defects present at birth to heart diseases that develop later in life. At our clinic, we care for patients of all ages and focus on personalized diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing support.
Cardiologists use advanced tests to check how the heart looks, works, and beats. By finding the root causes of heart problems, they create treatment plans that help patients feel better, avoid complications, and lower the risk of heart attacks or strokes.
If you have symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, a racing heart, dizziness, fainting, swollen legs, high blood pressure, unusual ECG results, or a family history of heart disease, it’s important to see a cardiologist. Getting checked early can help prevent serious heart problems and lead to better health.
Some common heart tests are ECGs, echocardiograms, stress tests, Holter monitors, implantable recorders, cardiac CT scans, calcium scoring, and cardiac MRI. We choose the right test for each person based on their symptoms, risk factors, and medical history.
We offer prevention plans and treatments tailored to each patient, following the latest international guidelines to ensure high quality care.
Which Diseases Does Cardiology Cover?
Cardiology focuses on a wide spectrum of cardiovascular disorders. The most common include:
- Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Blockage or narrowing of the arteries supplying blood to the heart, which may cause angina (chest pain) or lead to a heart attack (myocardial infarction). Lifestyle interventions, medications, and interventional procedures can prevent progression and reduce complications.
- Hypertension (High Blood Pressure): Persistently elevated blood pressure can strain the heart and vessels over time. Left untreated, it increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, and kidney disease. Cardiologists guide treatment through lifestyle changes, medications, and regular monitoring.
- Heart Rhythm Disorders (Arrhythmias): Abnormal heartbeats, including atrial fibrillation (AFib), supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), ventricular tachycardia (VT), and premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), can disrupt the heart’s normal rhythm. Detection and management prevent complications like stroke or sudden cardiac arrest.
- Heart Failure: A condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs, leading to fatigue, swelling, and shortness of breath. Modern therapies, including medications, device therapies, and lifestyle optimization, can significantly improve prognosis.
- Heart Valve Diseases: Narrowing (stenosis) or leakage (regurgitation) of heart valves can compromise blood flow, leading to symptoms such as breathlessness, fatigue, or palpitations. Interventions may range from surgical repair to minimally invasive procedures like TAVR.
- Congenital Heart Anomalies: Structural heart problems present at birth, such as ASD, VSD, TOF, or PDA, require specialized pediatric evaluation and often long term follow up into adulthood.
- Pericarditis and Myocarditis: Inflammatory conditions affecting the heart lining or muscle, often caused by infections, autoimmune diseases, or other triggers. Early diagnosis and treatment prevent complications like chronic heart failure.
- Vascular Diseases: Conditions affecting the arteries and veins, such as atherosclerosis, aneurysms, or arterial blockages, are also managed in cardiology. Early detection reduces the risk of heart attacks or strokes.
- Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction): A sudden interruption of blood flow to the heart can cause permanent damage. Rapid intervention in specialized cardiac centers improves survival and recovery.
- Rheumatic Heart Disease: An inflammatory condition affecting heart valves after infections like streptococcal throat infections. Long term care prevents progressive valve damage.
Interventional Cardiology: Procedures, Benefits, and Recovery
This branch treats blocked arteries and structural heart issues using minimally invasive catheter based procedures. Key procedures include coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug eluting stents, balloon angioplasty (PTCA), CTO interventions, and intravascular imaging (IVUS/OCT).We use physiologic guidance such as FFR/iFR to determine if a blockage needs treatment. Structural options like TAVR for aortic stenosis and left atrial appendage closure (Watchman) for AFib stroke prevention are also available.Benefits include smaller incisions, faster recovery, and shorter hospital stays. After PCI, medications such as DAPT are tailored to optimize long term results.
Pediatric Heart Care: For Children and Teens
Pediatric specialists evaluate and treat heart conditions in infants, children, and adolescents—from murmurs and congenital heart defects (ASD, VSD, TOF, PDA) to rhythm issues and chest pain. Testing may include echocardiography, ECG, Holter/event monitoring, and stress testing. We coordinate with pediatricians and transition to adult congenital services when needed.
In our cardiology service, we combine cutting edge technology, tailored treatment plans and supportive follow up to help you not only manage but improve your cardiovascular health for the long run.
Electrophysiology (EP) : Arrhythmia Diagnosis and Treatment
EP deals with heart rhythm problems such as AFib, atrial flutter, SVT, VT, PVCs, and bradycardia. Common ways to diagnose these conditions are:
- ECG
- Ambulatory monitoring (Holter/event monitors)
- Implantable loop recorders (ILR)
- Electrophysiology studies
Treatments may involve medications, catheter ablation like pulmonary vein isolation for AFib, or devices such as pacemakers, ICDs, and CRT. These approaches help bring the heart back to a normal rhythm, ease symptoms, and lower the chances of stroke or heart failure.
Cardiac Stress Tests: What to Expect from Echo, Treadmill, and Nuclear Tests
Stress testing evaluates how your heart performs under exertion or medication induced stress. Options include:
Treadmill test (ETT/TMT): continuous ECG and blood pressure monitoring during exercise.
Stress echocardiography: ultrasound imaging before and after exercise or medication to detect wall motion changes.
Nuclear cardiology (MPI via SPECT or PET): safe tracers and cameras show blood flow at rest and stress and estimate ejection fraction. These tests help detect CAD, guide treatment, and clear you for surgery or activity. We provide clear preparation instructions, including when to avoid caffeine or certain medications.
Preventive Cardiology: How to Lower Heart Risk and Protect Your Heart Health
Preventive cardiology reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. We assess risk factors cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, obesity, sleep apnea, and family history and build a personalized plan. Key steps include a heart healthy diet, regular activity, weight management, sleep optimization, stress control, and medications when needed (e.g., statins, antihypertensives, SGLT2 inhibitors/GLP 1 receptor agonists in selected patients). Coronary calcium scoring and CCTA can refine risk in specific cases.
Nuclear Cardiac: Safe Imaging to Assess Blood Flow and Heart Function
Nuclear cardiology uses SPECT or PET imaging with a small amount of tracer to check blood flow in the heart, find any past damage, and measure ejection fraction during rest and stress. This test is especially helpful if you cannot exercise or if treadmill ECG results are unclear. We always follow strict safety rules and the latest guidelines to make sure testing is accurate and safe.
Cardiology Stethoscopes and Tools: How We Listen to Your Heart
At your visit, we start with a careful heart exam using high quality stethoscopes, such as the Littmann Cardiology IV or Master Cardiology, to listen for murmurs, extra sounds, or rhythm changes. We use these findings along with ECG, echo, and other tests to confirm your diagnosis and make a care plan just for you.
What To Expect at Your First Cardiology Clinic Visit
Intake: review of symptoms, medical and family history, and medications
Testing: ECG on site; we may schedule echo, stress test, or monitoring
Plan: lifestyle guidance, medications when indicated, and clear follow up
Preparation: bring prior records and a list of questions. For nuclear stress tests or certain blood tests, you may need to avoid food or caffeine as instructed. Seek emergency care immediately for severe chest pain, sudden shortness of breath, or fainting.
Liv Hospital Cardiology
At Liv Hospital Cardiology Clinic, the latest technological and modern treatment methods are applied by experienced and specialized physicians. The heart team, which is experienced in cardiovascular diseases, decides on the most correct treatment that can be applied to the patient with team spirit. People with a heart related health problem consult a cardiology doctor or a cardiovascular surgery doctor. But this period is coming to an end, because your heart is in even safer hands! Liv Hospital Heart Team" concept is now implemented in Türkiye as well. The Liv Hospital Heart Team consists of important academics in the field of cardiology and cardiac surgery.
For more information about our academic and training initiatives, visit Liv Hospital Academy.
Frequently Asked Questions for Cardiology
What is Cardiology?
Cardiology is the medical specialty that diagnoses, treats, and helps prevent heart and blood vessel conditions, including CAD, heart failure, arrhythmias (AFib, SVT), valve disease, hypertension, and high cholesterol.
What is Interventional Cardiology?
Minimally invasive, catheter based treatments for blocked arteries and structural heart problems such as PCI (stents), PTCA, CTO interventions, and TAVR performed in a cath lab with quicker recovery than surgery.
What is a Cardiology Stress Test?
A test that evaluates heart function under stress using treadmill ECG, stress echocardiography, or nuclear cardiology (MPI via SPECT/PET) to detect CAD and guide treatment.
What is a Cardiology Echo (Echocardiogram)?
An ultrasound of the heart to assess size, pumping strength (EF), valve function, and blood flow. Types: TTE (through the chest) and TEE (via the esophagus) for detailed views.
What is Nuclear Cardiology?
Imaging with a small tracer to show blood flow and heart function at rest and stress, helping identify blockages or prior heart damage.
What is Electrophysiology (EP) in Cardiology?
A subspecialty focused on heart rhythm disorders (AFib, SVT, VT, PVCs). Diagnostics include monitors and EP studies; treatments include medications, ablation (PVI), pacemakers, and ICD/CRT devices.
Is Interventional Cardiology Surgery?
It is a minimally invasive catheter based treatment, not open heart surgery, performed in a specialized cath lab.
