The following conditions are some of the most common treated by a cardiologist. A cardiologist can offer expert care for many other related medical problems. If you need care for a condition not listed here, please call (708) 660-INFO (4636) to find a doctor who can help you.
- Angina: Chest pain or discomfort that occurs when the heart isn’t receiving enough blood.
- Aortic aneurysm: An abnormal bulge in the main artery that carries blood from the heart into the chest and abdomen.
- Arrhythmia: Irregular heartbeat.
- Atherosclerosis: A disease in which plaque builds up inside the arteries.
- Atrial fibrillation: A condition that causes an irregular heartbeat.
- Cardiomyopathy: Diseases of the heart muscle.
- Claudication: Painful cramping of the leg that can lead to peripheral vascular disease.
- Congestive heart failure: Occurs when proper blood flow is prevented by a weakened heart.
- Coronary artery disease: Occurs when the heart does not receive enough blood and oxygen.
- Edema: Refers to swelling caused by an extra build-up of fluid in body’s tissues.
- Endocarditis: An infection in the lining of heart chambers and valves.
- Heart attack: Also known as a myocardial infarction, occurs when part of the heart muscle is damaged or dies due to a lack of blood flow to the area.
- Heart murmur: An abnormal or extra sound from a heartbeat.
- High blood pressure: The force of blood pushing against the walls of arteries.
- High cholesterol: Too much cholesterol in the bloodstream leads to hardening of the arteries and other heart problems.
- High triglycerides: A type of fat in the blood at a high level can lead to coronary and other diseases.
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: An abnormal thickening of the heart muscle.
- Marfan syndrome: A genetic disorder affecting the connective tissue that supports the body.
- Mitral regurgitation: A type of heart valve disease in which the mitral valve does not close tightly, causing blood to flow back into the heart’s chambers.
- Mitral stenosis: A type of heart valve disease in which the mitral valve becomes narrowed and does not open properly.
- Mitral valve prolapse: Occurs when the mitral valve, which controls blood flow in the left side of the heart, doesn’t close tightly.
- Pericarditis: Infection or inflammation in the sac around the heart.
- Peripheral vascular disease: Occurs when a buildup of plaque and other substances blocks or narrows arteries, limiting or halting blood flow.
- Pulmonary embolism: A blood clot that lodges in one of the lung's arteries.
- Pulmonary hypertension: High blood pressure in the arteries.
- Pulmonary stenosis: A rare disorder in which the heart’s pulmonary valve is narrowed.
- Rheumatic heart disease: An inflammatory disease caused by a bacterial infection.
- Sick sinus syndrome: Occurs when heart disease has damaged the sinus nodes, causing the heart’s rhythm to fluctuate.
- Syncope: Medical term for fainting, or temporarily losing consciousness.
- Ventricular tachycardia: A rapid heartbeat that originates in the heart’s lower chambers.