Noninvasive cardiologists specialize in the diagnosis, treatment and management of heart disease. They treat and manage heart problems through medication and by helping their patients identifylifestyle changes to manage and improve heart health.
- Nuclear cardiology: A noninvasive study that produces images of the heart and surrounding anatomy by using radioactive elements.
- Echocardiography: An echocardiogram uses ultrasound to create images of the heart to identify how well the heart pumps bloodand to identify infections and structural abnormalities.
- Electrophysiology: Study and testing of the electrical currents which generate heartbeats.
- Stress tests: Stress testing usually involves monitored exercise, most often on a treadmill. These exercises provide your cardiologist information about how your heart performs under physical stress.
- Heart monitors: Heart monitors, sometimes called Holter monitors, are basically tape recorders allowing your cardiologist to see how your heart performs over a period of time.
- CT scans: CT scans give the cardiologist pictures of the heart from which he or she can see problems, includingcalcium build-up, also known as atherosclerosis.