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Some heart failure patients are diagnosed after a visit to the A&E with breathlessness caused by lung congestion; others are diagnosed by their family doctor.
Your family doctor, or general practitioner (GP), will always play an important role in your health care. He or she is the keeper of your health care history and has the broad overall view of your health.

The advantage of having a specialist for heart failure is the same as having a specialist for any other important area of your health. A specialist who focuses on heart failure has a depth of knowledge about the condition and its treatment, experience with other patients who share your concerns, and is most likely to have knowledge of new treatments options and other important information.

Your physicians

Consult with your family doctor (GP) about all aspects of your total health care. However, your physician may refer you to see one or more of these health care professionals who specialise in heart failure:

• Cardiologist - specialises in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
• Electrophysiologist (EP) or Heart Rhythm Specialist - a cardiologist with specialised training in the diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm problems.
• Echocardiologist or echo-cardiographer - performs cardiovascular examinations using ultrasound (sound waves) to produce a picture of a heart and great vessels.
• Heart failure specialist - a cardiologist or cardiac nurse who focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and management of heart failure.

Last Updated on: 20.01.2005