A cardiologist is a physician who’s an expert in the care of your heart and blood vessels. They can treat or help you prevent a number of cardiovascular problems. They can also specialize in specific areas, like abnormal heart rhythms, heart failure or heart problems you’ve had since birth.

A cardiologist is a healthcare provider who can treat chest pain, high blood pressure and heart failure, as well as problems with your heart valves, blood vessels and other heart and vascular issues. They can order tests like electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, CTs (computed tomography), CMR (cardiac magnetic resonance imaging) and nuclear imaging to find out what’s wrong. With their diagnosis, they can order medicine, help you start healthier exercise and eating habits, or do cardiac catheterization. If you need heart surgery, a cardiologist can refer you to a cardiothoracic surgeon.

A cardiologist will do a physical exam and discuss your symptoms, medical history and biological family history with you. It’s important to let your cardiologist know if other people in your biological family have had heart problems because that can increase the chances of you having a heart problem.