6 Types of Heart Doctors You Should Know About

A doctor who specializes in issues of the heart is called a cardiologist 27. According to the American College of Cardiology, these physicians are trained to find, treat and help prevent diseases that attack this vital organ as well as the body's blood vessels 123.

But the term cardiologist encompasses a few specialists who each focus on a different area of heart treatment 2. Here, we'll break down what you need to know about these highly trained health care professionals.

General Cardiologist

A general cardiologist treats a wide range of problems that affect the heart and blood vessels 2.

When someone is diagnosed with either a heart or vascular condition by their primary care physician, the patient usually is then referred to a general cardiologist 2. After obtaining the patient’s medical history and evaluating his or her symptoms, the doctor may recommend additional testing.

If the cardiologist concludes that the heart condition requires a procedure or surgery, he or she will refer the patient to a type of cardiologist who specializes in the necessary treatment, according to the Texas Heart Institute 129.

Read more: The 14 Best Foods for Your Heart

Interventional Cardiologist

What Are the Treatments for Cardiomegaly?

Learn More

An interventional cardiologist performs non-invasive procedures that focus on catheter-based management of heart disease, states the American College of Physicians 13.

A common procedure performed by interventional cardiologists is angioplasty. According to the Mayo Clinic, this procedure involves temporarily inserting a balloon into the artery to increase blood flow, followed by implanting a permanent mesh tube (or stent) in the artery to keep it open 5.

Another procedure often performed by these doctors is valvuloplasty, which uses X-ray imaging to insert a catheter with a balloon on the tip into a heart valve, in order to widen it and allow for better blood flow, according to the Mayo Clinic 13.

Electrophysiologist

An electrophysiologist (or cardiac EP) has extended training — two additional years beyond the required training of a cardiologist — in cardiovascular issues that involve diagnosing and treating abnormal heart rhythms, otherwise known as arrhythmias, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center [2](https://www.texasheart.org/heart-health/heart-information-center/topics/what-is-a-cardiologist/ 'inline-reference::Texas Heart Institute: "What is a cardiologist?

"')6. EPs review the results of various tests that may be ordered by a cardiologist, including a stress test (which monitors how the heart reacts during exercise), an echocardiogram (which uses sound waves to show images of the heart’s structure and how it functions) and an electrocardiogram (which involves placing electrodes on the chest in order to record the heart’s electrical activity) 2. The EP then determines whether any arrhythmias detected in these tests warrant treatment.

Along with prescribing medicine, these specialists can also treat arrhythmias by either implanting a device in the body that’s designed to reset or control the heart (like a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator) or performing a procedure that will have the same effect (such as a defibrillation, a technique that delivers a controlled electric shock to the heart).

Read more: 8 High-Tech Gadgets to Keep Your Heart Healthy

Pediatric Cardiologist

The Best Exercises for a Deconditioned Heart

Learn More

A pediatric cardiologist specializes in heart health care for infants and children 27. Since the type of heart problems that can affect a baby, toddler or child are different from the heart problems that affect adults, a pediatric cardiologist might be called on if the child’s primary care physician (pediatrician) has concerns about his or her cardiovascular system 2.

"')27.

Surgeons Who Work Closely With Cardiologists

There are two types of surgeons who are not classified as cardiologists but specialize in the surgical treatment of the heart and/or its corresponding blood vessels.

"')12. A specialist under this title can also be referred to as a cardiac surgeon.

"')913.

Vascular surgeon: According to the Inova Heart and Vascular Institute, a vascular surgeon performs procedures within the vascular system, which is the network of blood vessels — the veins, arteries and capillaries — that transport blood to and from the heart 249.

These doctors are trained to perform open, complicated surgeries, as well as minimally invasive endovascular procedures, such as treating an aneurysm (a swelling or "ballooning" of the blood vessel), states the Society for Vascular Surgery 12.