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Old 09-27-2008, 11:38 PM
 
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which is better a Cardiologist
or
a Internal Medicine Dr. with sub-specialties of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease?

Abnormal ECG.
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Old 09-28-2008, 06:56 AM
 
5,644 posts, read 13,201,288 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Miborn View Post
which is better a Cardiologist
or
a Internal Medicine Dr. with sub-specialties of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease?

Abnormal ECG.
If you have concerns over an abnormality on your ECG a Cardiologist is who you should see..

A board certified cardiologist has done a 3 year internal medicine residency followed by a minimum of 3 years specialized training in Cardiology.

The internal medicine MD has done a 3 year residency and may have a special interest in Cardiology but would not have the depth of training.
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Old 09-28-2008, 11:16 AM
 
5,273 posts, read 7,337,896 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Miborn View Post
which is better a Cardiologist
or
a Internal Medicine Dr. with sub-specialties of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease?

Abnormal ECG.

Cardiologist by far. They specialize in this field. I had an abnormal EKG recently too! I was referred by my primary to the cardiologist and he mentioned something about the "wiring" in my anatomic structure...or something but not to worry!just the genetic makeup of my cardiovascular system! He said he saw no impending heart attack!!! but just to appease him and get a stress test *(the kind on the treadmill)....and an ultrasound of the heart.

Do you have any symptoms? have high cholesterol? I have nothing and cholesterol is perfect!

Good luck and let us know how you do..

Last edited by njsocks; 09-28-2008 at 11:34 AM..
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Old 09-28-2008, 02:10 PM
 
12,669 posts, read 20,416,447 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by njsocks View Post
Cardiologist by far. They specialize in this field. I had an abnormal EKG recently too! I was referred by my primary to the cardiologist and he mentioned something about the "wiring" in my anatomic structure...or something but not to worry!just the genetic makeup of my cardiovascular system!
He said he saw no impending heart attack!!! but just to appease him and get a stress test *(the kind on the treadmill)....and an ultrasound of the heart.

Do you have any symptoms? have high cholesterol? I have nothing and cholesterol is perfect!

Good luck and let us know how you do..
Cholesterol great!
Hypertension which has started all this last year. They did a ECG last year and was fine a few days ago ECG was abnormal.
So are sending me to a Internal Med Dr with the cardiology/cardiovascular disease sub specialties.
Which I don't know if I like I was also thinking a cardiologist would be better but really know nothing about these sort of Dr.'s.

Hypothyroid/Hashimots's/Pernicious anemia also maybe a bit over my ideal weight but am very active. Eat pretty healthy, 45 yrs old.
I am also finding in the last year particularly getting red faced doing things that are not exertive to me at all.
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Old 09-29-2008, 06:09 AM
 
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It's not always necessary to see a cardiologist for an abnormal ECG. Many 'abnormalities' are just normal variants and are absolutely harmless. Most internists are easily able to see what is and is not in need of further investigation and/or referral.

And cardiologists do not have three year fellowships: like the other medicine sub-specialties, it's a two year cardiology fellowship. The third year is optional.
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Old 09-29-2008, 09:54 AM
 
5,273 posts, read 7,337,896 times
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Originally Posted by Viralmd View Post
It's not always necessary to see a cardiologist for an abnormal ECG. Many 'abnormalities' are just normal variants and are absolutely harmless. Most internists are easily able to see what is and is not in need of further investigation and/or referral.

And cardiologists do not have three year fellowships: like the other medicine sub-specialties, it's a two year cardiology fellowship. The third year is optional.


I didn't have a choice. My primary gave me a script to go see the cardiologist... Yes, I think that is what the consult with the cardiologist said, something with normal variants.... but can you explain what you mean by the variants??? I am curious.
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Old 09-29-2008, 11:25 AM
 
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ECGs are not 'one size fits all.' There are normal variations that can look a little strange if one isn't used to seeing them. If your heart faces a little more toward your back, rather than your chest, this can change the amplitude of the polarization and depolarization waves, for example. But it's normal for someone with a heart that's a bit turned and doesn't mean anything.
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Old 09-29-2008, 11:32 AM
 
Location: Texas
8,064 posts, read 17,980,678 times
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The internist will make the call. It depends on why the ECG is abnormal. If it doesn't seem like a serious issue, the internist can begin treatment but if there could be a serious, underlying cause, you'll be sent to a cardiologist.

This just happened to me. I had a bad day Friday -- dizziness, palpitations, etc. I went to the walk-in clinic. I have Lupus and am already being treated for arrhythmia. The internist did an ECG, blood work and other tests and he called me Sunday morning when the test results came in. He's sending me ASAP to a cardiologist even though my labs came back good. The ECG showed my arrhythmia and my heart rate is very low (bradycardia) -- that and the fact that I have Lupus worried him. He called some cardiologists and got me an appointment for Thursday.
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Old 09-29-2008, 12:13 PM
 
5,644 posts, read 13,201,288 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Viralmd View Post
It's not always necessary to see a cardiologist for an abnormal ECG. Many 'abnormalities' are just normal variants and are absolutely harmless. Most internists are easily able to see what is and is not in need of further investigation and/or referral.

And cardiologists do not have three year fellowships: like the other medicine sub-specialties, it's a two year cardiology fellowship. The third year is optional.

Cardiologists do have 3 year fellowships

USMLE blog for smart people: Residency World - Cardiology

Cardiovascular Specialists and Your Health Care

Cardiology Fellowship Overview - Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Cardiovascular Disease - Department of Medicine - Fellowships Programs ::

My informal survey of several cardiology colleagues tells me they all did 3 years prior to taking the board exam....
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Old 09-29-2008, 12:29 PM
 
7,079 posts, read 37,894,771 times
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Originally Posted by bluedevilz View Post
Cardiologists do have 3 year fellowships



My informal survey of several cardiology colleagues tells me they all did 3 years prior to taking the board exam....
And I know quite a few who took their boards after two years and then decided to continue into the third year. As I said: it's OPTIONAL.
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