Cardiologist Responsibilities

If you are not overly concerned about heart risks, then maybe you should reconsider, because 50 percent of men and 64 percent of women suffer from unforeseen heart diseases without any prior symptoms. The heart, like every working entity, is subjected to constant wear and tear and requires maintenance. This is where a cardiologist comes to the rescue.

A cardiologist is a doctor who specializes in treating disorders pertaining to the heart, like heart attacks (myocardial infarction) or corresponding cardiovascular diseases in humans. Their presence in the medical hierarchy is highly revered.

The job of a cardiologist is very challenging, where a single mistake could cost someone's life. Consequently, they are highly-paid professionals who boast of a respectful and noteworthy position in society. A lot of people have started pursuing this branch of medicine as their career because of its lucrative remuneration, endless possibilities and growth.

Cardiologist responsibilities can range from examining cardiovascular issues to conducting minimal or extensive heart surgeries. He diagnoses diseases, like coronary artery disease, hardening of the arteries, heart arrhythmia, high blood pressure, and peripheral arterial disease.

Cardiologist educational requirements include 4 years of medical school at any accredited university followed by residency program and hands-on training in internal medicine. Also, two years of additional training in specialized cardiology is required to start your own practice.

The cardiologist job description requires precise skills and utmost dedication, and he/she has to testify his worthiness by administering the following duties on a day-to-day basis.

• One of the preliminary responsibilities of a cardiologist would be to examine the patient and deduce the problem. This is done through running various tests on the subject, the most noteworthy being the electrocardiogram test, colloquially known as ECG.

• ECG is the analysis of heartbeat by attaching electrodes to the skin near the chest and interpreting the signals as waves onto the monitoring device.

• A regular physician is also capable of executing these duties, but a professional cardiologist would have a sound understanding of those slight nuances in the ECG readings.

Also, there are various other tests like ultrasound imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, blood tests, and chest X-rays, which facilitate the cardiologist to zero in on the problem and come up with a proper solution.

• Catheterization is process performed by cardiologists to check how efficiently the heart is pumping, the rate of blood flow to the heart, and collect tissue samples for biopsy.
• It is considered that this technique was invented by ancient Egyptians who presumably used papyrus to draw blood from the human veins.

• It has been derived from the word catheter which means a thin tube. A small camera is mounted at the tip of the catheter, which is inserted into the artery or vein.
• It is then pushed up through the venous system until it reaches the heart. It is also used to infuse dye into the arteries, the process being called coronary angiography or coronary arteriography.

• Catheterization requires a lot of scrutiny and precision, hence considered to be one of the most challenging responsibilities of a cardiologist.

• One of the cardiologist duties is treating the problem through various methods. This could range from recommending suitable medication or diet to performing minor surgeries.

• Invasive cardiologist specializes in performing minor surgeries like placing pacemakers. On the other hand, cardiac surgeons handle the more intricate bypass and thoracic surgeries.

• Patients who are suffering from heart diseases can consult any non-invasive cardiologist.
• Given their medicinal expertise, they try to mitigate ailments like deviation in blood pressure or abnormal cholesterol levels by prescribing the right medication and necessary tests.

• Sometimes, a heart patient is supposed to get an approval from the cardiologist before proceeding for any other tests, which might not be associated with the heart.
• A fascinating fact about cardiologist responsibilities is that they get the opportunity to literally interact with the heart and observe it closely.

The cardiologist salary range is governed by his job description and responsibilities. The typical annual salary of a non-invasive cardiologist could be around USD 400,000, whereas their invasive counterpart could draw an annual salary of around USD 450,000 - USD 600,000.

Responsibilities of a cardiologist are increasing day-by-day, thanks to our ever-changing and hectic lifestyle. Consumption of unwholesome food, degrading habits, and minimal physical activities call for various health risks, the heart being the most vulnerable. Hence, challenge is one of the elements amongst many of the cardiologist duties.