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The cardiovascular consultation is your introduction to the cardiologist, who will elicit a detailed history of your problem and perform a thorough examination of your heart and vascular system. The history of your problem will also include eliciting information about other diseases and symptoms, a medical history of your close relatives, and information about the risk factors that lead to coronary disease (hardening of the arteries), elevated cholesterol and other fats in your blood, high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking. The cardiologist will also want an exact list of your medications and the dose and frequency that they are taken, as well as any history of medication, allergies or intolerances. It is helpful if you bring a list of your medications with you, or bring the medicine containers themselves. Pertinent information, especially test results, from other doctors should be secured, if possible, for review. The cardiovascular consultation is one of the most important "tests" your cardiologist will "perform". At its completion your cardiologist will usually have a reasonable impression about the nature of the problem and what additional tests will likely be required to further clarify the diagnosis. You can help your cardiologist by being thorough, but also concise in supplying the above information in response to his/her queries.
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