What does a cardiologist do? Role and examinations

Q: Is a cardiologist a medical doctor?

Yes, a cardiologist is a medical specialist who has completed additional training in cardiology after graduating from medical school. This training focuses on diagnosing, treating and helping to prevent cardiovascular diseases.

Q: Does a cardiologist perform surgery?

A cardiologist does not perform open-heart surgery; this is carried out by a cardiac surgeon. However, specialised cardiologists perform procedures such as angioplasty, stent placement and pacemaker implantation. These treatments are carried out within regular hospital care.

Q: What is the difference between a cardiologist and a radiologist?

A cardiologist specialises in conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels. A radiologist specialises in medical imaging, using techniques such as MRI, CT and ultrasound. Both specialists may work together to assess your health.

Q: Do you need a referral to see a cardiologist?

Yes, you generally need a referral to see a cardiologist at a hospital, including for coverage under basic health insurance. According to the National Health Care Institute (Zorginstituut Nederland), an exception applies in emergencies. No referral is required for a preventive cardiac examination at Prescan. However, you will generally need to cover the costs yourself.

Q: What happens during your appointment with a cardiologist?

You will discuss your symptoms, lifestyle and family medical history, often followed by an ECG. Depending on your situation, additional examinations may be necessary, such as an echocardiogram or exercise stress test. Write down your questions in advance so you don't forget anything during the consultation.

Text reviewed bij our cardiologist Dr. Ieva Arts.

What is a Cardiologist?

A cardiologist is a medical doctor who has specialised in the heart and blood vessels after completing medical school. This field of medicine is called cardiology, and a cardiologist is also known as a heart specialist.

Cardiology focuses on the cardiovascular system: the heart and blood vessels. Cardiologists diagnose and treat conditions such as heart rhythm disorders, heart failure and heart valve diseases. They work in hospital outpatient departments and cardiac care units, provide emergency care and also practise in independent clinics.

According to VZinfo (RIVM), an estimated 1.8 million people in the Netherlands were living with one of five studied groups of cardiovascular diseases in 2024. Preliminary figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) for 2024, published by VZinfo, show that cardiovascular diseases accounted for 22% of all deaths in the Netherlands. Among women, cardiovascular disease is even the leading cause of death.

For more information about how the heart works and various heart conditions, visit our heart health knowledge base.

What Does a Cardiologist Do?

A cardiologist examines the heart, diagnoses and treats conditions, and provides advice on reducing health risks. Their specific role depends on the reason for your visit.

Examination and Diagnosis

The appointment begins with a discussion about your symptoms, lifestyle and family medical history. When do your symptoms occur? Do they appear during physical activity or also at rest? Is there a history of cardiovascular disease in your family? This is followed by a physical examination and, if necessary, additional tests. The cardiologist uses this information to identify possible causes of your symptoms.

Client speaking with a medical specialist during a consultation at a Prescan clinic

Treatment

Treatment may involve lifestyle advice, medication or a medical procedure. In hospitals, specialised cardiologists can perform procedures such as angioplasty or stent placement using a catheter: a thin tube inserted into a blood vessel. Pacemaker implantation is another possible treatment.

Open-heart surgery is performed by a cardiac surgeon. The cardiologist consults with this specialist when surgery may be necessary. These treatments are carried out within regular hospital care; Prescan does not perform them.

Prevention and Risk Profile

Blood pressure, cholesterol, lifestyle and family history provide information about your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The cardiologist combines these factors into a cardiovascular risk profile and discusses which areas require attention. This may lead to recommendations on nutrition, physical activity or treatment for high blood pressure.

What Examinations Does a Cardiologist Perform?

Common examinations include an ECG, echocardiogram, exercise stress test and blood tests. Which examinations are needed depends on your symptoms and what the cardiologist wants to assess.

ECG (Electrocardiogram)

An ECG records the electrical activity of your heart using electrodes placed on your chest, arms and legs. This painless examination usually takes just a few minutes and provides information about your heart rhythm and electrical conduction. In our article on how an ECG works, you can read what an ECG can and cannot detect.

Echocardiogram (Echocardiography)

An echocardiogram uses ultrasound waves to create images of the heart's structure and function. The cardiologist assesses how effectively the heart pumps blood and how well the heart valves function, including whether they open and close properly.

Medical specialist performs an ultrasound examination on a client at a Prescan clinic.

Exercise stress test (cycling test)

During an exercise stress test on a stationary exercise bike (cycle ergometer), the resistance gradually increases. Meanwhile, your heart rate, blood pressure and ECG are monitored. This allows the cardiologist to assess how your heart responds to physical exertion.

Client on an exercise bike with electrodes, supervised by a medical specialist at a Prescan clinic

Blood tests

Blood values such as cholesterol and glucose help assess your risk of cardiovascular disease. The cardiologist evaluates these results alongside other information, such as your blood pressure and medical history.

If further examination is needed, a hospital cardiologist may arrange additional tests, such as 24-hour heart rhythm monitoring or further cardiac imaging.

How does a cardiologist assess your heart?

A cardiologist evaluates examination results alongside your symptoms, age, lifestyle and family medical history. This means that the significance of a test result can vary from person to person.

Each examination provides different information. An ECG measures the heart's electrical activity, while an echocardiogram provides insight into aspects such as the heart's pumping function and heart valves. The cardiologist assesses whether the findings are consistent with one another and whether they help explain any symptoms.

Not every abnormality is serious or requires treatment. The specialist explains which findings need attention and whether monitoring or further examination is necessary. Feel free to ask what an abnormal result means for you and what the next steps are.

Collaboration with Other Specialists

When necessary, the cardiologist works closely with GPs, internal medicine specialists, cardiac surgeons and radiologists. A radiologist assesses medical images, such as MRI scans. By sharing information, these specialists coordinate examinations and treatments to ensure appropriate care.

When Should You See a Cardiologist?

If you experience symptoms that may be related to your heart, your GP is usually your first point of contact. Your GP will assess whether a referral to a cardiologist is necessary. If you are already receiving treatment, discuss any new symptoms with your treating specialist. If symptoms persist, contact your doctor even if previous examinations showed no abnormalities.

If you experience sudden, persistent chest pain or pressure, call 112 immediately, especially if you are also sweating, feeling nauseous or experiencing shortness of breath.

Even without symptoms, you may consider preventive advice or examinations.

Before undergoing an examination, discuss what you expect from it. The results may indicate a need for monitoring or raise questions that require further investigation. Preventive examinations are not a substitute for medical care when you are experiencing symptoms.

The cardiologist at Prescan

At Prescan, cardiologists are involved in various preventive health programmes. These include heart-focused examinations such as Cardio Vital and Cardio Vital Complete, as well as Prescan Pro, Prescan Elite and the Women’s Health programmes. The examinations performed vary by programme, but the cardiologist's role remains the same: to assess the results, evaluate the findings as a whole and discuss them with you personally.

Some examinations, such as the echocardiogram and ECG, are performed by the cardiologist. Other procedures, including the exercise stress test and blood sampling, are carried out by medical assistants.

Once the examinations have been completed, the cardiologist analyses the available results. This includes assessing the findings from the echocardiogram and exercise stress test, your blood pressure and relevant blood values in combination. Together with information about your medical history, lifestyle and family history, these findings form the basis of your cardiovascular risk profile.

The cardiologist then discusses the results with you. You will receive an explanation of what the findings mean, along with personalised advice on any areas that require attention or possible next steps. If further examination is necessary, Prescan can arrange a referral to your GP or medical specialist.

Prescan's cardiologists also work in regular hospitals. Prescan is a ZKN-certified clinic. A preventive examination provides a snapshot of your health at a particular moment and complements regular healthcare rather than replacing your GP.

Discover what a cardiac examination at Prescan involves