Posted on February 18, 2022.

It’s perfectly normal to be hesitant or uneasy when it comes to meeting with a new physician. And this is especially true when it comes to meeting a new doctor for something as important as your heart. But being referred to a cardiologist doesn’t have to be a scary experience. After you’ve been referred to a cardiologist, your primary care physician continues to be a key member of your cardiovascular team. And they will help coordinate your care across various specialties and clinics and help you manage your condition over the long term.

Perhaps your doctor advised you to see a cardiologist due to concerns about your heart health. Maybe you've noticed your symptoms warrant a visit to a specialist. Or you may be taking a precautionary measure due to your family’s history of heart disease. 

Prepare for Your Cardiologist Appointment

When you go to a cardiologist for the first time, as with any physician, there are things you can do to prepare. And these actions can help to make your preliminary appointment less stressful.

• Compile a personal health history and a health history of your family.
• Gather any recent test results and a list of medications you are taking.
• Note any symptoms you have been experiencing.
• Compile a list of questions you want to ask your doctor.

To learn more about your condition, your cardiologist may refer you for any of a number of non-invasive diagnostic tests. Non-invasive refers to tests that do not require insertion of diagnostic tubes into the heart or arteries.

Meeting With Your Cardiologist

Depending on the reason for your cardiologist appointment, your attending doctor may require a range of different medical tests. Although these tests may seem daunting, keep in mind your doctor is there to help you improve your heart's health. The more diagnostic information available to your cardiologist, the faster they are able to help you. The types of tests your cardiologist might order include the following:

• Blood tests
• Urinalysis
• Stress test (on the treadmill)
• Non-stress test (sitting in a chair)
• Nuclear stress test or echo stress test
• Echocardiogram
• CT, PET, or MRI scan
• Coronary angiogram

Keep in mind that you might not be subjected to any or all of these tests. These are just simple diagnostic tools the doctor may use to better understand what is going on with your heart. Some patients might have to meet their cardiologist at the hospital. If this is the case, the doctor most likely prefers meeting with you in a place where all tests can be run. However, this setting is nothing to stress out about. In fact, it can save you time and money in the long run.

Original Post: https://www.cardio.com/blog/cardiologist-appointment-what-to-expect