General Introduction
Cardiology in Turkey – Diagnosis and Treatment of Heart and Vascular Diseases
Cardiology is the branch of medicine that studies the heart and vascular system.
Initially a subfield of internal medicine, cardiology today functions as an independent medical specialty. Research, accumulated knowledge, and advancements in medical technologies have driven significant developments in cardiology and led to the emergence of specialized subfields. Over the past 40 years, cardiology has made remarkable progress, which continues to expand daily. Key subfields include:
- Interventional Cardiology
- Cardiac Electrophysiology
The emergence of these subfields and the work of specialized doctors and researchers have contributed to the development of new diagnostic and treatment methods.
Cardiology addresses some of the most common and serious health problems today.
Diseases Treated in Cardiology
- Hypertension
- Ischemic Heart Disease
- Atherosclerotic Coronary Artery Disease
- Acute Coronary Syndrome
- Angina Pectoris
- Tricuspid Stenosis
- Aortic Regurgitation
- Aortic Stenosis
- Mitral Valve Regurgitation
- Mitral Valve Stenosis
- Myocardial Infarction
- Endocardial Diseases
- Pulmonary Regurgitation
- Pulmonary Stenosis
- Cardiomyopathy
- Acute Myocarditis
- Pericardial Effusion
- Pericardial Tamponade
- Cardiac Tumors (Primary Tumors)
- Peripheral Arterial Diseases
- Cardiac Arrest
- Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Atrial Myxoma
Common Symptoms of Cardiac Diseases
- Palpitations
- Unintentional weight loss in some cases
- Chest pain in patients with arterial disease
- Shortness of breath and nocturia in heart failure
- Hematemesis in valve disorders
- Erectile dysfunction due to respiratory problems
- Syncope (fainting)
- Severe dyspnea that awakens patients at night, indicative of heart failure
Diagnostic Methods Used in Cardiology
Electrocardiography (ECG): A non-invasive method that records the electrical activity of the heart, providing information about heart muscle and conduction system function.
Exercise Stress Test: Used to investigate coronary artery disease, assess treatment effectiveness, detect exercise-induced arrhythmias, evaluate physical capacity, and examine blood pressure response during exertion.
Holter ECG: Continuous ECG monitoring over 24 hours or longer to evaluate heart rhythm disorders.
Chest X-rays: Imaging technique providing crucial information about heart position and cardiothoracic ratio, essential in diagnosis and treatment planning.
Echocardiography (ECHO): Uses ultrasound-like technology with a probe to examine heart structure and valve function, especially useful in heart failure and valvular diseases.
CT Coronary Angiography: Non-invasive imaging of coronary arteries for patients unable to undergo traditional angiography, used for early diagnosis and screening.
Cardiac Catheterization: An invasive method critical for diagnosing coronary artery and valve diseases, allowing pressure measurement in heart chambers and biopsy collection.
Myocardial Perfusion Scintigraphy: Nuclear imaging technique using gamma rays to evaluate blood flow and heart function.
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Provides high-resolution images of cardiac structures, identifying abnormalities not visible with other methods. Cardiac MRI has become increasingly important in routine cardiology practice, offering detailed evaluation of heart function, ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathies, and heart failure, and enabling precise clinical decision-making.