Ben Smith said:
I respectfully dissagree. All pediatric cardiologist do not specialize in CHD. They may in some parts of the Country, larger city's maybe. But we can't make that assumption.
I would be sure the cardio is CHD specialist. My brother in the upper Detroit area had a son with a "murmur" that lasted longer than it should, and it took him quite a few phone calls to get to a pediatric cardiologist that is a CHD specialist.
Never hurts to ask the question to be sure, Greg.
Just my $0.02
Ben
Ben,
I have to agree with Lyn...
What is the Job of a Pediatric Cardiologist?
Many people understand that a cardiologist is a physician who specializes in the
diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. Most often, we think that heart disease occurs in
adults who suffer from high blood pressure or those with high risk behaviors as smoking
or high cholesterol fatty diets. In our society, there is much emphasis on how to maintain
a healthy lifestyle to avoid heart disease in later life.
Not many people realize that there are some patients who suffer from heart disease
without ever smoking a cigarette and some who are afflicted with heart disease even
before their first birthday. Heart disease can affect adolescents, young children or the
fetus in the womb. These patients are cared for by a pediatric cardiologist.
As a pediatric cardiologist, I am a doctor who is specially trained in the detection and
treatment of heart disease in children. After graduating from Universite Catholique de
Louvain Medical School in Belgium, I trained in pediatrics and then in pediatric
cardiology for six years at New York University. I am a board certified pediatric
cardiologist and I see patients at the Bassett Healthcare Clinic in Cooperstown and
Bassett Healthcare Oneonta. It is my goal to bring much needed pediatric cardiology
services to our rural area.
There are two types of heart disease affecting children -- congenital heart disease and
acquired heart disease.
Congenital heart disease is present at birth due to the abnormal development of a baby?s
heart in the early stages of pregnancy. A pediatric cardiologist is able to detect the
presence of heart disease in a fetus with the use of echocardiogram equipment to obtain
an ?ultra-sound? image of the heart. A fetal echocardiogram can provide information to
help evaluate the structure, function, and arrhythmia of the fetal heart.
Only a small percentage of the population is likely to develop congenital heart disease. A
nurse midwife or obstetrician monitoring an expectant mother who has risk factors for
congenital heart disease would recommend their patient for evaluation by a pediatric
cardiologist. These ultrasound examinations are available locally in Cooperstown.
Common referrals to a pediatric cardiologist include youngsters who experience heart
murmurs, irregular heart rate, palpitations or fainting episodes. An evaluation includes an
EKG (a non-invasive test that looks at the electrical activity of the heart) and
echocardiogram (which provides an ultrasound image of the heart.) Occasionally it is
necessary to monitor the young patient?s heart rate for 24 hours.
Many heart problems in childhood are outgrown and may just need to be monitored or
perhaps treated for a while during the growing years. Some ailments require medication
or surgery to correct the problem. Pediatric heart surgery is offered in Albany, New York.
Acquired heart disease is varied and can develop at any age in life. The most common
heart diseases seen in children in the United States include hypertension, heart damage
due to infections or viruses, abnormal heart rhythms or endocarditis (inflammation of the
heart lining.)
A child suspected of suffering from heart disease might exhibit symptoms such as chest
pain, fainting, and irregular heartbeats. These patients would be referred to a pediatric
cardiologist from a primary care provider or a pediatrician. After a referral, the pediatric
cardiologist conducts an evaluation, recommends a treatment plan and follows the
progress of a child patient with heart disease. In addition to a physical examination, the
pediatric cardiologist would consider the family?s medical history, past medical history of
the patient, body mass index, and life style concerns.
Like many other medical providers, my interest is in preventing disease. Consequently, a
portion of my time is devoted to research that delves into the factors contributing to heart
disease among children in our society, such as child obesity, lack of exercise and poor
nutrition. Because of my attention to this area of disease prevention, we have instituted a
Pediatric Preventive Cardiology Clinic in Cooperstown, which brings nutritionists,
exercise physiologists, and other health care providers together to help young patients
and their families adopt a lifestyle that will prevent the development of acquired heart
disease.
Heart disease is a serious matter, and heart disease in babies, children, and adolescents
requires specialized medical attention. As a pediatric cardiologist, my goal is to help
patients get the care they need to live long and happy lives.
Veronica Schmer, M.D., is a pediatric cardiologist
