Cardiology

People commonly visit our consultant cardiologists with symptoms such as:

• Chest pains
• High blood pressure
• Low blood pressure
• Shortness of breath
• Heart palpitations
• Dizzy spells or fainting
• Unexplained weakness or fatigue
• Rapid or irregular pulse
• Anxiety

The most common conditions that we test for using non-invasive procedures include:

Coronary heart disease

This occurs when fatty deposits called plaque (atherosclerosis) narrow the arteries supplying blood to your heart muscle. It limits oxygen-rich blood flow, which can cause chest pain (angina) or a heart attack.

Hypertension

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a chronic medical condition in which the force of blood against your artery walls is consistently too high. It forces the heart to work harder to circulate blood, significantly increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure.

Palpitations and arrhythmia

Heart palpitations are the physical sensation of a pounding, racing, fluttering, or skipped heartbeat. They are the most common symptom of an arrhythmia, which is an umbrella term for an irregular, abnormally fast, or abnormally slow heartbeat caused by faulty electrical signals in the hear

Heart attack

Seeing a cardiologist or specialist nurse after a heart attack is crucial for your recovery. These appointments—typically scheduled 2 to 3 weeks or 2 to 3 months post-discharge—allow your medical team to review your test results, adjust your medications, and monitor your heart function.

Heart valve disease

Heart valve disease is where 1 or more of the valves in your heart does not work as it should. This can affect your blood flow and put extra strain on your heart.

Congenital heart disease

Congenital heart disease is when you are born with a heart defect, like a hole in your heart. This can affect the way blood flows around your body. Treatments include medicine and sometimes surgery.

Vascular disease

Vascular disease affects blood vessels (arteries, veins, and lymphatics), most commonly presenting as Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD). It restricts blood flow, typically to the legs.

Stroke

Strokes occur when blood flow to the brain is interrupted—often by a clot originating from the heart—making the heart and brain inseparable in diagnosing, treating, and preventing.

Angina

Angina is chest pain which occurs when the blood supply to the heart becomes restricted because of narrowing or blockages in the blood vessels around the heart.

Lipid abnormalities (dyslipidemia) 

Dyslipidemia (or a lipid abnormality) refers to abnormally high or low levels of lipids—such as cholesterol, triglycerides, or lipoproteins—in the bloodstream. It is a major, yet highly treatable, risk factor for developing cardiovascular conditions like heart attacks and strokes.

Angiogram

An angiogram is a diagnostic medical test that uses X-ray imaging and a special contrast dye to visualize the inside of your blood vessels (arteries or veins). It allows our specialists to detect blockages, narrowing (like atherosclerosis), aneurysms, or blood clot.

Cardiac CT scan

This is a non-invasive imaging test that uses X-rays and a contrast dye injected into an arm vein to produce detailed 3D images of the heart's arteries.

Cardiac MRI

A cardiac MR (Magnetic Resonance), or MRI, is a painless, non-invasive imaging test that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to generate highly detailed pictures of your heart. It does not use radiation and helps doctors accurately assess your heart's structure, valves, and muscle function.

24-hour blood pressure monitoring

In some instances it is helpful to measure your blood pressure not only when you are resting but also when you are going about your daily life. A 24-hour blood pressure monitor (ambulatory blood pressure monitor) is a small, wearable device that continuously tracks your blood pressure. Worn for 24 hours, it includes an inflatable cuff connected to a portable device that automatically takes readings, even while sleeping, to provide an accurate, in-depth view of your heart health.

Cardiac catheterisation

A heart catheterisation (cardiac cath) is a minimally invasive, low-risk procedure used to diagnose and treat cardiovascular conditions by guiding thin, flexible tubes (catheters) through blood vessels to the heart. It is used to check for blocked arteries, evaluate heart valve function, or repair heart defects without open-heart surgery.

Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram, or "echo," is a non-invasive, painless ultrasound scan that uses high-frequency sound waves to create live, moving images of the heart's structure, chambers, valves, and surrounding blood vessels. It is used to assess how well the heart pumps, detect abnormalities, and monitor heart health.

Electrocardiogram (ECG) test

An electrocardiogram (ECG) test is a safe and painless test to check your heart's rhythm and electrical activity. It helps diagnose and monitor conditions that affect your heart, including coronary heart disease, which is when your heart's blood supply is blocked by a build-up of fatty substances.

Implantation of a permanent pacemaker

A permanent pacemaker is a small device implanted under the skin, usually below the collarbone, to treat slow heart rhythms (bradyarrhythmia) by sending electrical signals to stabilise the heartbeat. The 60-90 minute procedure is done under local anesthetic, and you can usually return to normal activities within a few weeks.

ICDs and CRT

Some people with heart failure will need to have a procedure to implant a small device in their chest that can help control or monitor their heart's rhythm. Our specialists will use either a pacemaker, cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) devices or implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs)

The first step for any patient is usually an initial consultation. Unless your GP or insurer has told you otherwise, you should book your first appointment with a member of our cardiology team.

Our cardiology consultants are listed below, where there are more details of their areas of clinical interest and appointment times. Alternatively, please call our dedicated team of friendly advisors on 020 8546 6677.

At Kingston Private Health, you can either use your private health insurance or pay for your own treatment.