Cardiovascular Medicine is the branch of internal medicine that focuses on the heart and blood vessels. It deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders affecting the circulatory system. This specialty is vital due to the global prevalence of heart disease and its impact on overall health.

Core Subspecialties of Cardiovascular Medicine

1. General Cardiology

• Manages common heart conditions like hypertension, angina, arrhythmias, and heart failure.

2. Interventional Cardiology

• Performs minimally invasive procedures such as:

  • Coronary angiography

  • Angioplasty and stent placement

  • Structural heart interventions (e.g., valve repair)

3. Electrophysiology

• Focuses on the electrical activity of the heart.

• Treats arrhythmias using pacemakers, defibrillators, and ablation techniques.

4. Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology

• Manages advanced heart failure and evaluates patients for heart transplantation or mechanical assist devices.

5. Preventive Cardiology

• Emphasizes lifestyle changes, risk factor control, and early detection to prevent cardiovascular disease.

6. Cardiac Imaging

• Uses tools like:

  • Echocardiography

  • Cardiac MRI

  • CT angiography

  • Nuclear cardiology

7. Pediatric Cardiology

• Diagnoses and treats congenital and acquired heart diseases in children.

8. Vascular Medicine

• Manages diseases of the blood vessels, including:

  • Peripheral artery disease

  • Deep vein thrombosis

  • Aneurysms

9. Cardio-Oncology

• Addresses cardiovascular complications in cancer patients due to chemotherapy or radiation.

Common Conditions Treated

• Coronary artery disease

• Myocardial infarction (heart attack)

• Hypertension

• Atrial fibrillation

• Valvular heart disease

• Congenital heart defects

• Cardiomyopathies