Specialty Area: Cardiology

Description of Specialty: Cardiology specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Doctors interpret electrocardiograms and echocardiograms, perform and interpret stress tests and cardiac catheterizations (angiograms) and perform balloon angioplasty and stent procedures.


1. Diagnosis: Acute Myocardial Infarction (Acute MI; heart attack)

Questions That Should Be Asked:

  1. What caused the heart attack and how much damage was there?
  2. What can be done to prevent another attack and do I need to limit my activities?
  3. Do I need to alter my diet and, if so, how? When can I return to work?
  4. When can I resume sexual relations and are there any limitations?
  5. Do you recommend an exercise program and, if so, when should I begin?
  6. What additional tests are needed and will I need a bypass operation?



2. Diagnosis: Congestive Heart Failure (CHF; heart failure)

Questions That Should Be Asked:

  1. What exactly is CHF, what causes it and have I had a heart attack?
  2. How well is my heart functioning and what is my ejection fraction?
  3. What is my prognosis and do I need to have additional tests performed. If so, what are they?
  4. Is there anything that can be done to improve my heart function and/or prognosis?
  5. Are there any restrictions on my activities and what are they?
  6. Do you recommend an exercise program and, if so, when and where?
  7. Do I need to follow a special diet and what is it?
  8. Is it alright for me to have sexual relations and are there any restrictions?
  9. Is it alright to drink alcohol and, if so, how much and how often?

3. Diagnosis: Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP)

Questions That Should Be Asked:

  1. What is mitral valve prolapse and how common is it?
  2. What are the most common symptoms and how is it diagnosed?
  3. Is it serious and what kinds of complications can occur?
  4. What kinds of treatments are available and how effective are they?
  5. Are there any special precautions and do I need to let my dentist know?
  6. Will I need antibiotics?
  7. Are there any activity restrictions?
  8. What is the prognosis?

4. Diagnosis: Hypertension

Questions That Should Be Asked:

  1. What is hypertension?
  2. What is normal blood pressure and what is mine?
  3. What do I need to be concerned about my blood pressure and what are the risks of high blood pressure?
  4. What kinds of treatments are available and will I require medication?
  5. How effective are medications and what are the side effects?
  6. Why did you select this particular medication for me?
  7. Do I need to be on a special diet and, if so, what type?
  8. Should I exercise, should I lose weight and is it alright to drink alcohol? Are there any activity restrictions?
  9. What is the prognosis and will I need medication the remainder of my life?

5. Diagnosis: Hyperlipidemia (High Cholesterol and with fats in the blood)

Questions That Should Be Asked:

  1. What is high cholesterol and what are the different types of fats and cholesterol?
  2. What are my cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglyceride readings and what are normal levels?
  3. Why do I need to be concerned about my cholesterol level and what are risks for high levels?
  4. What causes high cholesterol and what can I do about it?
  5. What kinds of treatments are available and do I need to be on medication?
  6. How effective are medications and what are the side effects?
  7. Do I need to be on a special diet, should I exercise, should I lose weight and can I drink alcohol?
  8. Are there any activity restrictions?
  9. What is the prognosis and will I need to be on medication the remainder of my life?

6. Diagnosis: Aortic Stenosis (AS)

Questions That Should Be Asked:

  1. What is aortic stenosis, what causes it and what are the symptoms?
  2. How is it diagnosed?
  3. How severe is my aortic stenosis?
  4. Do I need to have additional tests?
  5. Will I need heart catheterization?
  6. What treatments are available and will I need open heart surgery?
  7. Are there activity restrictions, including sexual relations, and are there precautions I should be aware of?
  8. If I need to have my aortic valve replaced, what kind of artificial valve will I need?
  9. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the different kinds of artificial valves?

7. Diagnosis: Mitral Regurgitation (MR)

Questions That Should Be Asked:

  1. What is mitral regurgitation, what causes it and what are the symptoms?
  2. How is it diagnosed?
  3. How severe or serious is the amount of mitral regurgitation I have?
  4. Do I need to have additional tests such as heart catheterization or echocardiogram?
  5. What treatments are available and how effective is medication?
  6. Will I need to have surgery and, if so, how effective is the surgery and what are the risks?
  7. Are there any activity restrictions and, if so, what are they?
  8. Are there any other precautions I should be aware of?
  9. Should I take antibiotics prior to dental work?

8. Diagnosis: Atrial Fibrillation

Questions That Should Be Asked:

  1. What is atrial fibrillation, how is it diagnosed and what causes it?
  2. What are the symptoms?
  3. Is atrial fibrillation serious and what are the risks associated with it?
  4. What treatment options are available and what are the pros and cons associated with each?
  5. What is the prognosis and will I have to take medications the remainder of my life?
  6. Are there any activity or dietary restrictions and, if so, what are they?
  7. Is my thyroid function alright?
  8. Do I need blood thinners?

9. Diagnosis: Ventricular Premature Contractions; Ventricular Tachycardia (VPC, VT) Questions That Should Be Asked:

  1. What are VPCs and what is ventricular tachycardia?
  2. What causes VPC and VT and how are they diagnosed?
  3. What are the symptoms of each? Is this a serious condition and what are the risks and prognosis?
  4. Could this be related to medications, diet or a chemical imbalance?
  5. What treatment options are available and do I need to be on medication?
  6. What are the pros and cons of each medication and what are the side effects?
  7. Are there any activity, exercise or sexual restrictions?
  8. If I have VT, would a defibrillator help and what are the pros and cons of this?

10. Diagnosis: Cardiomyopathy

Questions That Should Be Asked:

  1. What is cardiomyopathy, what are the symptoms and what causes it?
  2. What type do I have, is it hereditary and should my family members be tested?
  3. If I have a dilated cardiomyopathy, what is my ejection fraction?
  4. How serious is my condition and what is the prognosis?
  5. What treatment options are available and what are the advantages/disadvantages of each?
  6. Should I be on a low salt diet and is it alright to drink alcohol?
  7. Are there any activity, exercise or sexual relations restrictions?

11. Diagnosis: Pericarditis; Pericardial Effusion (fluid around the heart)

Questions That Should Be Asked:

  1. What are pericarditis and pericardial effusion and what causes each?
  2. What are the symptoms of pericarditis/pericardial effusion?
  3. Is it serious, what is the prognosis and what are the risks?
  4. Do I need to have any additional tests and, if so, what are they?
  5. What treatment options are available? Is this condition likely to recur?
  6. Are there any activity, exercise or sexual relations restrictions?

12. Diagnosis: Bradycardia (Slow heart rate; sick sinus syndrome)

Questions That Should Be Asked:

  1. What is bradycardia and what is sick sinus syndrome?
  2. What is normal heart rate and what is my heart rate?
  3. What causes this disease and could it be related to medication?
  4. What are the symptoms, what is the prognosis and what are the treatment options?
  5. Will I need a pacemaker?
  6. What are the different types of pacemakers and what are the pros and cons of each?
  7. Are there any risks from having a pacemaker and how often do batteries have to be changed?
  8. Are there any activity, exercise or sexual relations restrictions?

13. Diagnosis: Aortic Aneurysm; Aortic Dissection (weakening of the wall of the main heart blood vessel)

Questions That Should Be Asked:

  1. What are each of these diseases, what causes them and is heredity involved?
  2. What are the symptoms, are these serious conditions and what are the risks?
  3. What is the prognosis for each?
  4. What is the location of my aneurysm/dissection?
  5. Do I need to have any additional tests and, if so, what are they?
  6. Do I need surgery and, if so, what are the risks?
  7. Is there anything I can do to prevent the condition from recurring or worsening?
  8. Are there any medications that help?
  9. Are there any activity, exercise or sexual relations restrictions?

14. Diagnosis: Coronary Artery Disease; Angina Pectoris (CAD, Angina)

Questions That Should Be Asked:

  1. What is coronary artery disease, what is angina and what causes each?
  2. How are angina and CAD diagnosed and will I need to have additional tests?
  3. How many coronary arteries are blocked, how severe is the blockage and where are they located?
  4. What treatment options are available and what are the pros and cons of each?
  5. If I need to be on medication, what are the options?
  6. Should I be on a special diet?
  7. Are there any activity, exercise or sexual relations restrictions?

15. Diagnosis:Unstable Angina (decreased circulation to the heart in an unstable manner)

Questions That Should Be Asked:

  1. Why is it called unstable angina, is it serious and what are the risks?
  2. Do I need additional tests and what is the prognosis?
  3. What are the treatment options and what are the advantages/disadvantages of each?
  4. What medications will I need to be on and what are the side effects?
  5. Are there any activity, exercise or sexual relations restrictions?
  6. Should I be on a special diet?
  7. How many coronary arteries are blocked, how severe are the blockages and where are they located?

16. Diagnosis: Questions on Diagnostic Testing Questions That Should Be Asked:

  1. What is the purpose of a thallium stress test?
  2. What is the exercise stress test? What is stress echocardiography?
  3. What is the persantine stress test?
  4. What is a Holter monitor test?
  5. What is a Doppler study?
  6. What is a ventriculogram?
  7. How do I prepare for each of these tests?

Michael W. Rich, M.D. Professor of Medicine, Cardiology Division Department of Medicine Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, MO.

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