Cardiology
Cardiology is the medical treatment of diseases of the heart and parts of the circulatory system. Cardiologists are the doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating these conditions.
Heart specialists in Charleston, South Carolina
In the event of a cardiac event or disease, our heart specialists are on your team.
If you are in need of cardiac care, we know how important it is to have a personalized team supporting your needs.
How healthy is your heart?
Take our free health risk assessment to help you understand more about the health of your heart. Your results will inform your next steps, like scheduling an appointment or calling your doctor.
Take our free health risk assessment to help you understand more about the health of your heart. Your results will inform your next steps, like scheduling an appointment or calling your doctor.
Related specialties
Learn more about our related specialties.
Cardiovascular conditions we treat
Our heart specialists are equipped and trained to effectively diagnose and treat an extensive range of conditions, such as:
- Arrhythmia
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
Our compassionate cardiologists at Trident Medical Center provide the diagnoses and treatment plans you need.
Our cardiology treatments and services
When it comes to your heart, there's a lot to know. Our cardiology experts will guide you in understanding your condition or disease through personalized diagnostics. These heart specialists will also support you in your tailor-made treatment plan as you journey toward a healthy heart.
Heart imaging and screening
To understand the root of the problem, our team offers advanced diagnostics to get an accurate reading on your heart. Our heart tests include:
- 64-slice computerized tomography (CT) scans — This is one of the most advanced cardiac diagnostic tools available today. A CT scan creates a 3D picture to provide a clear and instant view of the entire heart.
- Angiogram — Sometimes called a coronary CT angiogram (CCTA), this is a cardiac imaging study performed on a 64-slice CT scanner. CCTAs help to visualize the coronary arteries and evaluate for narrowing and atherosclerosis (plaque build-up on the artery walls).
- Echocardiogram — Echocardiography allows your doctor to see how your heart is working by using sound waves to produce images of your heart. These images help them diagnose conditions such as problems with the aorta, issues with the heart valves and blood clots.
Arrhythmia care
An arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. It happens when the electrical signals that control your heartbeat aren't working properly. An arrhythmia may involve your heart beating too fast, too slow or with an irregular rhythm.
Our heart specialists in our electrophysiology lab will analyze the electrical systems in your heart and diagnose the problem using catheters and electrodes to effectively treat the arrhythmia.
Heart failure clinic
Heart failure occurs when the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently, which interferes with its ability to receive all the required blood and oxygen it needs. It can be very dangerous when left untreated, but signs and symptoms of heart failure can be treated to help you live a longer life.
The Heart Failure Prevention Clinic will educate you and provide personalized care to help prevent your heart failure from escalating. The clinic offers a vast range of paths forward to manage heart failure, such as:
- Comprehensive heart failure education for you and your family
- Rapid post-hospitalization follow up
- A collaborative approach to care with the referring physician
- Medical therapy consistent with evidence-based practices
- Emergency IV diuretic therapy
Treatments for heart failure
How your heart failure is treated depends on the severity of your condition, but we will recommend a lifestyle change no matter what. These changes may include weight loss, regular exercise and body movement and maintaining a healthy diet. Medications may also be recommended.
Cardiovascular surgery may be recommended if you have advanced-stage heart failure. Our cardiologists offer multiple procedures in these cases, including:
- Coronary artery bypass graft
- Device implants
- Heart valve repair or replacement
- Pacemaker or implantable cardiac defibrillator
Our hospital is Certified for Advanced Heart Failure by The Joint Commission. This means, should you need it, we can provide you with expert surgical care for heart failure.
Our catheterization lab
Catheters are small tubes guided through blood vessels to access your heart. Our heart specialists use these, as well as special imaging devices, to evaluate how well your blood is flowing in and out of your heart. This allows our specialists to treat your issues with small incisions to minimize your recovery time.
The Valve Clinic
Early evaluation and valve disease monitoring is a top priority at our valve clinic. Our program will evaluate you and work to effectively treat symptoms to protect your heart function.
Our specialized team, including either a cardiologist or cardiothoracic surgeon, will evaluate your valve condition and develop a tailored treatment plan.
Your initial evaluation includes:
- A comprehensive medical history
- Physical examination
- Echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart)
- Discussion of test results and treatment plan options
Cardiovascular surgeries
Our heart specialists are trained in a wide range of heart and vascular surgeries, including:
- Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG)
- Heart valve replacement
- Implantable cardiac defibrillators and pacemakers
- Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC)
- Maze procedure and arrhythmia surgeries
- Minimally invasive aortic and mitral valve repair and replacement
- Minimally invasive endoscopic vein harvesting
- Repair of adult congenital heart lesions
- Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)
Emergency room (ER) visits for cardiac events
Sometimes there are physical symptoms that cannot wait until a regularly-scheduled appointment or check-up. When prompt care is required, we're here for you.
Emergency cardiology services
You should immediately seek emergency care if you experience heart attack symptoms, such as:
- Chest pain (may be described as discomfort, pressure, aching, burning or fullness; may begin or worsen with exercise or be relieved with rest or nitroglycerin)
- Pain in the back, jaw and other upper body areas (the pain might go away and come back)
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Anxiety or a sense of dread
- A cough
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Weakness or fatigue
- A fast heart rate
- Indigestion
It's important to know that you may not have chest pain if you are a woman experiencing a heart attack. Symptoms in women tend to be less obvious and can include:
- Pain in the jaw or upper back
- Light-headedness
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
Our emergency department is trained to swiftly identify heart attacks and treat you with the latest technology, expertise and compassionate care.