Should I Go To A Cardiologist, Or Can My Internist/Family Doctor Diagnose Heart Disease?

Question: If I think I might have heart disease. Should I go to a cardiologist, or can my internist or family doctor diagnose it?

Answer: Because coronary artery disease is so common, your internist or family physician can make the diagnosis of coronary disease if you are concerned. So the first place to go is your primary care physician. In general, we would reserve treatment by a cardiologist for patients who are at very high risk of coronary disease or in whom coronary artery disease has already been diagnosed.

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