You should consider seeing a cardiologist if you experience chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting spells, irregular heartbeats, swelling in your legs, or extreme fatigue. Additionally, if you have risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes, family history of heart disease, or you're a smoker, regular cardiac check-ups are recommended.

For healthy adults with no symptoms or risk factors, a baseline cardiac evaluation in your 20s followed by check-ups every 4-6 years is typically recommended. After age 40, or if you have risk factors, annual check-ups are advisable. Your doctor may recommend more frequent monitoring if any abnormalities are found or if you have existing heart conditions.

Cardiologists are physicians who specialize in diagnosing and treating heart conditions using medications and non-surgical procedures. Cardiac surgeons perform surgical operations on the heart and blood vessels. Many patients see a cardiologist first, who may then refer them to a cardiac surgeon if surgical intervention is needed.

Common cardiac tests include EKGs (electrocardiograms), stress tests, echocardiograms (ultrasound of the heart), Holter monitors (extended EKG monitoring), cardiac CT or MRI scans, and cardiac catheterization. The specific tests you need depend on your symptoms, risk factors, and initial evaluation findings.

Yes, we have a 24/7 cardiac emergency department staffed by specialized cardiologists and equipped with state-of-the-art technology. Our chest pain center is accredited to provide rapid assessment and treatment for heart attacks and other acute cardiac conditions, with some of the fastest door-to-treatment times in the region.