cardiology

Cardiology is the part of medicine that looks after the heart and the blood vessels attached to it. If you think of the body as a city served by water pipes, cardiology is the team that studies the central pump and the main plumbing, finds where things leak or clog, and decides how to fix them.

More precisely, cardiology covers the structure and function of the heart and the vascular system, the diseases that affect them (such as coronary artery disease, heart failure, rhythm disorders and valve problems), and the tools used to study them, from the stethoscope and electrocardiogram to ultrasound, cardiac catheterization and advanced imaging. It overlaps with general internal medicine, cardiac surgery, radiology and emergency medicine.

A useful caveat: cardiology is a medical, mostly non-surgical specialty. Cardiologists diagnose and manage heart disease and perform catheter-based procedures, while open-heart operations are done by cardiac surgeons. The two work closely together, especially in conditions like severe coronary or valve disease.