Cardiology

Cardiology is the branch of internal medicine dealing with disorders of the heart and blood vessels. The field is commonly divided in the branches of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology.

What is Cardiology?

The term cardiology is derived from the Greek words “cardia,” which refers to the heart and “logy” meaning “study of.” Cardiology is a branch of medicine that concerns diseases and disorders of the heart, which may range from congenital defects through to acquired heart diseases such as coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure.

Hidden Signs of Heart Problems

Cardiology Procedures

Cardiac Pharmaceutical Agents

Limiting Cardiovascular Risk Using Akkermansia

Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Myocardial T1 and T2 Mapping

Artificial Intelligence in Cardiology

Structure and Function of the Heart

How the Heart Pumps Blood

Percutaneous Closure Procedure

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Heart Disease Biomarkers and Screening Tests

Cardiothoracic Imaging Techniques

Latest Cardiology News and Research

CARDIO-TTRansform trial investigating eplontersen fails to meet primary efficacy endpoint

The CARDIO-TTRansform trial investigating eplontersen in patients with transthyretin-mediated amyloid cardiomyopathy did not meet its primary efficacy endpoint, according to results presented in a Hot Line session today at ESC Congress 2026.

28 Aug 2026

Major cardiac societies develop and publish a universal definition of myocardial infarction

When a myocardial infarction, such as a heart attack, occurs, being able to classify its type can improve diagnosis and treatment.

28 Aug 2026

First joint guidelines address cardiovascular events and chronic kidney disease

The first-ever European Society of Cardiology Guidelines on the management of cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease have been developed in collaboration with the European Renal Association.

28 Aug 2026

New guidelines simplify heart failure phenotypes into two groups

Reflecting improved understanding and treatment advances, new European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines on heart failure have been published online today in the European Heart Journal and will be presented at ESC Congress 2026 this afternoon.

28 Aug 2026

New international guidelines highlight the extensive benefits of cardiac rehabilitation

The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines on cardiac rehabilitation have been published online today in the European Heart Journal.

28 Aug 2026

Study shows how temperature extremes can contribute to heart failure hospitalizations

Heart failure hospitalization risk increases after short-term exposure to cold spells, lower ambient temperatures and higher ambient temperatures, according to a study published in JACC, the flagship journal of the American College of Cardiology, and simultaneously presented at ESC Congress 2026.

28 Aug 2026

Study reveals how SGLT2 inhibitors improve failing heart function

Researchers have discovered that SGLT2 inhibitors, a class of drugs originally developed to treat diabetes and now widely used for heart failure, work by activating a key enzyme that helps heart cells produce and use energy more efficiently.

27 Aug 2026

Former ESC president judged guilty of severe misconduct over drug ties

A British cardiologist and former president of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has been judged by the ESC to have committed severe misconduct after a Danish TV documentary reported that he had been involved in drawing up guidelines for the use of the heart drug ivabradine (Corlanor, Procoralan) while profiting from lucrative contracts with the drug's maker.

27 Aug 2026

Coronary artery calcium scan may be most valuable for a specific group of patients

It's an increasingly popular scan that measures calcium in the heart's arteries and helps predict risk of future heart disease.

26 Aug 2026

Study: Nearly 8 out of 10 young adults have cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome

A new scientific study found that nearly 8 out of 10 young adult participants, average age 23 years, had cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome (CKM syndrome), according to new independent research published today in Circulation: Population Health and Outcomes, a peer-reviewed scientific journal of the American Heart Association.

20 Aug 2026

Review reveals how nicotine damages blood vessels and heart health

A review published today in Nature Reviews Cardiology provides the most detailed picture yet of how nicotine damages the cardiovascular system – tracing the biological chain of events from the moment nicotine binds to receptors in blood vessel walls through to the atherosclerotic plaque rupture that triggers heart attacks and strokes.

19 Aug 2026

Immune signaling pathway protects newborn heart cells from injury

Researchers at the University Hospital of Bonn (UKB) and the University of Bonn have identified a previously unknown signaling pathway in the immune system that helps newborn heart cells survive and regenerate after injury.

17 Aug 2026

Inhaled cannabis reduces premature heartbeats in habitual users

Habitual cannabis users experienced about 9% fewer premature heartbeats on days they inhaled cannabis compared with days they abstained, a counterintuitive finding that adds to the complex and evolving understanding of how cannabis affects the heart, new UC San Francisco-led research found.

12 Aug 2026

AI-enabled stethoscope frequently misses heart murmurs in companion animals

Fourth-year veterinary students matched - and experienced clinicians outperformed - an AI-enabled digital stethoscope in diagnosing heart murmurs and arrhythmias in cats and dogs, according to a new study from North Carolina State University.

12 Aug 2026

UC San Diego and West Health launch new national healthcare model

America's health care system is under pressure with demand rising, hospital capacity strained and the number of patients who need care the most increasing faster than the system was built to serve.

12 Aug 2026

Dysregulated immune cells drive hidden inflammation after heart attacks

People with narrowing of the coronary arteries have low-grade, uncontrolled inflammation in the body, even if they are symptom-free and receiving optimal treatment.

12 Aug 2026

Huge philanthropic grant funds pioneering stem cell-based heart attack therapy

In a landmark moment for both the treatment of heart disease and philanthropic support, The Marcus Foundation has awarded the head of USC Stem Cell Center, Chuck Murry, MD, PhD, $28.7 million to advance a clinical trial testing a stem cell-based therapy designed to regenerate damaged tissue after a heart attack.

11 Aug 2026

Waist size predicts heart disease risk better than body mass index

The size of a person's midsection is a better indicator of cardiovascular disease risk when compared to their body mass index (BMI) alone, according to a study published in JACC, the flagship journal of the American College of Cardiology.

11 Aug 2026

Scientific statement reframes cardiovascular care for older patients with cognitive impairment and frailty

Older adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD) often have coexisting cognitive impairment and frailty, conditions that can significantly affect treatment decisions, recovery, independence and quality of life and should be considered as part of an aging-informed approach to care, according to a new American College of Cardiology Scientific Statement published in JACC, the flagship journal of the ACC.

10 Aug 2026

Explainable AI helps predict dangerous bleeding after severe heart attacks

Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine have developed and tested a six-point scoring system that can help identify patients at high risk of internal bleeding in damaged heart muscle after a severe heart attack using explainable artificial intelligence (XAI).

9 Aug 2026