Cardiology

Whether you want to prevent heart disease, find a specialist for ongoing care, or have a complex cardiac issue, Virtua Health provides expert cardiology care. You enjoy direct access to advanced, highly tailored treatments for conditions such as abnormal heart rhythms, heart valve problems, heart failure, coronary artery disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure, and more.

Our Approach to Cardiology

Our cardiologists are dedicated to maintaining your heart health and providing solutions to conditions affecting your cardiovascular system.

We seek the least invasive approach to cardiac care first, and we often can help reduce your heart disease risk factors—such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol—through changes in lifestyle (diet, exercise, smoking cessation, and stress reduction) or adjustments to medication.

If you require a procedure such as an angioplasty, surgery, or ablation for atrial fibrillation (AFib), we’re with you every step of the way. Even when your heart isn’t functioning as it should and medications aren’t sufficiently helping, we have devices that can assist your heart and can refer you for transplant consideration. When needed for more complex conditions, we work collaboratively with our cardiology subspecialists, and can arrange for and provide follow-up care.

When to See a Cardiologist

Routine visits and check-ups with Virtua cardiologists can help monitor your ongoing heart health. You should see a cardiologist if you have:

• Concerns about your blood pressure or cholesterol
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Fainting spells
• Fluttering sensations in the chest, such as palpitations, a racing heartbeat, or a feeling that your heart is skipping a beat

If you or someone you know is experiencing chest pain or pressure; pain that spreads to the shoulder, arm, jaw, or back, sweating; shortness of breath; fatigue; lightheadedness or dizziness; nausea; or fainting, you may be having a heart attack or cardiac arrest. Call 911 immediately.

Cardiology Services We Offer

During a routine cardiology appointment, the cardiologist will measure your weight and blood pressure, perform a physical exam, and discuss your symptoms, medical history, and family history with you. It’s important to let your cardiologist know if other people in your family have had heart problems because that can increase the chances of you having a heart issue.

Routine screenings may also include blood work to measure your:

• Cholesterol, including your HDL, LDL, and triglyceride levels
• Glucose/blood sugar

Depending on your risk factors and/or symptoms, your doctor may recommend both basic and cutting-edge diagnostic tests. These include:

• Electrocardiogram (EKG) that records your heart’s electrical activity
• Echocardiogram to assess your heart’s structure and function
• Monitors to record your heart rate and rhythm for 24 to 48 hours, or longer
• Stress test to see how your heart responds to exercise or special medication (chemical stress test)
• Coronary artery calcium scoring to look for calcium buildup in the arteries
• Cardiac catheterization, also known as coronary angiography, which uses catheters advanced through the body to directly see inside your arteries
• Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) to see high-resolution, three-dimensional images of your heart
• Cardiac MRI to assess scarring of the heart, abnormal deposits in the heart, and the heart’s strength

Based on your risk factors or symptoms and the results of diagnostic tests, you and your doctor will determine the best course of treatment. This may include lifestyle modifications, medications, and, if necessary, referral to a specialist for an interventional procedure like an angioplasty or pacemaker implantation.