Your heart, your blood and the vessels that transport it through your body make up your cardiovascular system. Cardiologists are physicians who specialize in preventing, diagnosing and treating problems within this system.
The most common cardiovascular issue is coronary artery disease (CAD), a narrowing or hardening of the blood vessels that bring oxygen and nutrients to the heart. CAD can trigger symptoms of angina—chest pain or pressure that you might notice when you exert yourself. When a coronary artery is completely blocked, a heart attack occurs. A cardiologist can help you reduce your risk of CAD and its complications by prescribing medications and lifestyle changes to control risk factors, including high blood pressure (hypertension) and high cholesterol.
Cardiologists also diagnose and treat arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). Arrhythmias may not cause any symptoms, but, when present, symptoms can include palpitations, dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath and weakness or fatigue.
Cardiologist Robert Henson II, MD, FACC
The cardiologists at Olympic Medical Physicians are all board certified, meaning they have committed to extra education and study and passed a national exam in their specialty. With offices in Port Angeles and Sequim, seeing our doctors is convenient, and our affiliation with Swedish Heart & Vascular Institute—the region’s leading cardiovascular care center—gives you direct access to highly specialized procedures, should the need arise.
If you and your provider feel you may benefit from seeing a cardiologist, ask your provider for a referral. For more information, please call Olympic Medical Physicians at (360) 565-0999.
