
At Butler Health System, we offer heart health services from skilled, board-certified cardiologists trained at world-renowned institutions. These physicians are experts in many aspects of heart health. Cardiologists perform interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, open-heart surgery, cardiac and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, and other procedures. When heart surgery is recommended to one of our patients, our cardiac surgeons utilize the least invasive approach whenever possible. Minimally invasive surgeries only involve smaller incisions, which optimizes healing time and recovery.
It’s vital to protect and take care of your heart health, especially because heart disease is the number one cause of death in both men and women worldwide. Not only is heart disease exceedingly common, with half of Americans being at risk for heart disease, but it is a silent killer, as well. Most people are unaware they have a heart condition until they experience a cardiac event such as a heart attack, cardiac arrest, or stroke. If you suspect you have heart disease from symptoms such as shortness of breath or chest pain, speak to your primary care physician for a possible referral to a cardiologist.
Cardiology is a branch of internal medicine that focuses on diagnosing, treating, and managing disorders that affect the heart and blood vessels. Cardiovascular services focus on blood vessels such as the veins and arteries throughout the body that transport blood to and from the heart. For example, the body’s veins are responsible for transporting blood back into the heart for fresh oxygenation and nutrients, whereas the arteries lead blood away from the heart throughout the rest of the body. When the heart or blood vessels don’t work properly, consequences vary, but heart disease can severely impact quality of life if left untreated.
Cardiologists are physicians who specialize in heart health and conditions that impair heart function. A cardiologist can diagnose heart problems through a diagnostic process that includes checking the patient’s weight, heart, lungs, blood pressure, and more during a physical examination. During these patient examinations, a cardiologist may order follow-up tests to check for a heart murmur or abnormal heart rhythm. Cardiologists also treat patients who have had a previous heart attack or other heart problems such as heart failure. Your cardiologist will partner with you to decide if treatment options, which may include heart surgery, catheterization, or angioplasty and stenting, among others.
Physicians who specialize in heart health are called cardiologists. These doctors diagnose and treat cardiovascular conditions such as:
Heart disease is known as “the silent killer” because it isn’t always apparent until a major health crisis occurs. Heart conditions progressively worsen over time, and the early symptoms may be difficult to ascertain. For this reason, it’s crucial to keep regular annual physicals with your primary care physician to check for possible signs of heart ailments. Not only will your primary care physician notice a heart condition, but they also keep track of your health over the years. Even when you’re healthy, routine physical exams provide valuable information to your doctor for your medical history to establish a baseline. Once your primary care physician suspects you have a heart condition, they will also refer you to a cardiologist who can diagnose it with pinpointed accuracy.
There are numerous tests that a cardiologist can order to check for heart disease. An accurate diagnosis is important because it dictates the patient's treatment to get better or effectively manage their condition. A variety of tests are used to diagnose heart disease – some are noninvasive, others are more so.
The following are examples of noninvasive diagnostic tests for heart disease:
If noninvasive tests aren’t conclusive, your cardiologist may want to look inside the body to determine what’s causing your symptoms. These tests include:
Click here to take the Heart Risk Assessment
Butler Health System and Excela Health finalize transaction Butler, PA, January 3, 2023: Officials at Excela Health (EH) and Butler Health System ...
Continue ReadingButler, PA, November 18, 2022: Officials at Butler Health System and Excela Health today announced that after a period of due diligence the parties ...
Continue ReadingNovember 16, 2022 – Butler Memorial Hospital received an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group. This national distinction celebrates ...
Continue ReadingButler Health System is pleased to announce the addition of Avinash Linganna, MD to the BHS Heart Team. Dr. Linganna is a highly skilled cardiologist ...
Continue ReadingCOVID-19 In our continued battle against COVID-19, Butler Health System will be offering the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine. This protein subunit vaccine is ...
Continue Reading(Left to Right: Ken DeFurio, President & CEO; Jon Leo, CRNP; Cassidy Fairman, PA-C; April Pryor, CRNP; Alexus Nubani, PA-C; Lisa Doverspike, PA-C, ...
Continue ReadingButler Health System is proud to announce the expansion of our current vascular service line to include all aspects of vascular surgery, both open and ...
Continue ReadingButler Health System was recently allocated a limited amount of the Jynneos smallpox/monkeypox vaccine and will be hosting a clinic at Butler Memorial ...
Continue ReadingButler Health System is pleased to announce the addition of Dinesh Bhaskaran, M.D., F.A.C.S. to the BHS Heart Team. Dr. Bhaskaran brings a wealth of ...
Continue ReadingButler Health System is hosting clinics for the Moderna young pediatric COVID-19 vaccine in Butler and Clarion. The Moderna vaccine is a two part ...
Continue Reading