Cardiologist vs internist - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

flowersx2 · 01-05-2007, 05:13 PM

Wondering what type of dr everyone goes to and at what point do you go to a cardiologist?

violet312s · 01-05-2007, 08:42 PM

My feeling is that you head to a specialist if "routine" treatment paths are not working, meaning you and your doctor have tried common drug regimens but they are not working. And yes, it might take multiple tries of different drugs and doses (took 4 drugs, 8 dose adjustments, 6 months for me).

If you have any concern about your course of treatment, most internists will be very open to talking about when it's right to see a specialist. If they have a problem with the conversation, time for a new internist.

Connie122516 · 01-07-2007, 10:58 AM

If you have a competent, board certified internist I know of no reason why you'd need to see a cardiologist unless and until a specific heart related problem is suspected or diagnosed. And as violet said, your internist should be able and willing to discuss when s/he thinks it is appropriate to refer to a specialist.

lylone · 01-08-2007, 04:57 AM

Flowers,

I saw an internist for many years who perscribed me Verapamil for HBP and SVTs. I hadn't seen a cardio for 16 years until I had a bad SVT episode last year which was the first one in 5 years. Joan Glancy Hospital referred me to CVG for an echocardiogram just to check to make sure there was no damage or issues. My internist and the cardio know each other and swap info quite often. If you do go to CVG write down that you were referred by your internist and that way your internist will be able to be able to see the results from CVGs tests and etc.
I see my internist about every 6 months and the cardio maybe once a year. Both of them have me on bp medicine and the combo seems to work well.
Good luck!
Lyl

Lenin · 01-08-2007, 07:11 AM

I agree with everyone here, there's no reason to involve a cardiologist in routine hypertension care.
Save him for the GOOD stuff like angina, heart attack, cardiomyopathy, surgical intervention and heart failure...that's ENOUGH on the cardiologist's plate.

After all, we have to give internists and GP's SOMETHING to do lest they get cranky.