A cardiology consultation is the assessment of complaints and risks related to the heart and blood vessels. The doctor listens to the history of the complaint, carries out the necessary physical examination, assesses measurements such as blood pressure and heart rate, and if needed requests an ECG, echocardiography or other tests.
A cardiology assessment may be needed for symptoms such as chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, fainting, unusual symptoms brought on by exercise or swelling in the feet. Follow-up may also be planned for people with known high blood pressure or heart disease, and for the assessment of certain risk factors.
Not everyone needs a cardiology consultation, ECG or echo before sport or exercise. Whether further assessment is needed is decided based on age, symptoms, personal and family history, existing conditions, the intensity of the planned exercise and the examination findings.
Bringing a list of the medicines you take and any previous ECGs, echo reports, blood test results and cardiology reports makes it easier to compare with earlier findings.
If chest pain, unexplained shortness of breath, a history of fainting or another finding requiring cardiovascular assessment is identified during orthopaedic or physiotherapy care, a cardiology opinion may be requested before an exercise programme is started.