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Cardiology

Cardiology is the medical treatment of diseases of the heart and parts of the circulatory system. Cardiologists are the doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating these conditions.

Cardiovascular services in Inverness, Florida

At HCA Florida Citrus Hospital, we understand having a healthy heart is critical to leading a healthy life.

That's why our Heart and Vascular Center is designed to enable us to meet every heart care need you have. We use advanced technology to do this in a comforting and welcoming environment. Our team of highly skilled cardiologists specializes in comprehensive cardiac care. This includes interventional cardiology, heart and vascular surgery and the treatment of heart abnormalities.

Is your heart healthy?

Understanding your heart health is critical to getting the care you need. We offer a health risk assessment to help get you started.

Understanding your heart health is critical to getting the care you need. We offer a health risk assessment to help get you started.

Related Specialties

Learn more about our related specialties

Our cardiovascular treatments and services

Here, we combine advanced technology with patient-focused, personalized treatments to maximize your personal heart health.

Heart arrhythmia and atrial fibrillation (AFib) care

Heart arrhythmias, or abnormal heart rhythms, occur when your heart's electrical system does not function properly. Irregular heartbeats can cause a variety of conditions, including shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness and even a stroke or heart attack. They can also be a sign of underlying heart disease.

Our cardiology team uses advanced diagnostic services, medications, techniques and procedures to treat heart arrhythmias, including AFib.

AFib never fully disappears but can be suppressed for five to 10 years if treated early enough, such as during the paroxysmal stage.

Heart disease care

The symptoms of arterial blockage, or heart disease, differ based on the location of the blockage within the body. Knowing these symptoms can help lead to early detection and treatment, which can prevent a heart attack, stroke or heart failure.

Symptoms of blood supply blockage can include:

  • Chest pain (angina) or tightness in the chest
  • Mini stroke
  • Numbness, cold feeling or pain in the arms or legs
  • Pain in the back, upper abdomen, throat, jaw or neck
  • Sudden loss of vision

Diagnostic procedures and imaging

To assess your heart health and identify any cardiovascular conditions, we rely on the accurate, fast results from our diagnostic cardiovascular imaging and screening tests. Some of these include:

  • Computerized tomography (CT) scan: noninvasive heart scan using X-rays to take pictures of the beating heart from any angle, showing problems in your heart's structure or blood-pumping ability, as well as calcium buildup or other blockages
  • Coronary angiogram: special X-ray test in which images are taken as contrast dye fluid is used in the coronary arteries to show how blood flows through the heart, highlighting any blockages
  • Nuclear stress test or myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI): noninvasive test showing how well the blood flows through the heart muscle and how effective the heart muscle is pumping, usually using single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) or positron emission tomography (PET)
  • Stress echocardiography: noninvasive test during which ultrasound images of the heart are taken during exercise to evaluate the amount of blood and oxygen your heart muscle receives during physical activity
  • Stress tests: monitoring of the heart's activity during exercise using electrodes or chemicals

Heart catheterization procedures

A heart catheterization is the gold standard in diagnosing blockages in arteries and passageways supplying blood to or from the heart. It involves the use of a catheter (thin, flexible tube) to let our heart doctors see inside certain areas of your heart.

In some cases, a heart catheterization is performed only after medications fail to improve symptoms of a blockage in blood supply to the heart. Once the results of a heart catheterization are returned to your cardiologist, they will determine if a stent is necessary to eliminate current blockages of blood flow to or from your heart.

Cardiovascular treatments we offer

We offer a full range of specialty treatment programs and procedures to help you have a healthier heart. Some of these include:

Arrhythmia treatments and procedures

We provide a full spectrum of arrhythmia treatments based on your specific arrhythmic condition. These treatments include:

  • Ablation
    • Catheter ablation
    • Cryoablation
  • Automated external defibrillator
  • Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)
  • Electrical cardioversion
  • Implantable loop recorder
  • Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) device insertion (to reduce the risk of stroke for people who have AFib and help eliminate the need for long-term blood thinner usage)
  • Medication therapy and management
    • Beta blockers
    • Blood thinners
    • Calcium channel blockers
    • Digoxin
  • Pacemaker device insertion (a device used to treat arrhythmias, such as AFib)

Interventional cardiology procedures

We specialize in interventional cardiology, which focuses on blood flow through arteries in the heart and throughout the body.

In interventional cardiology, nonsurgical procedures using catheters are performed to repair narrowed arteries and weakened or damaged blood vessels. These minimally invasive procedures give you the benefits of shorter recovery times and little to no pain and scarring.

The interventional cardiologists at our hospital specialize in the treatment of many conditions relating to the cardiovascular system, including:

  • Carotid and other arterial blockages
  • Cerebrovascular accidents (strokes)
  • Heart attacks
  • Renal artery stenosis
  • Vein abnormalities and disorders

Stent insertion procedures

Many of the procedural treatments of heart-related conditions involve the insertion of a stent to allow improved blood flow through arteries. A stent is a small tube made of a metal mesh material. It is usually inserted to open a narrowed artery or other passageway within the body for easier blood flow.

During these procedures, the cardiac specialist will first insert a catheter into the blocked artery. Next, they will perform a balloon angioplasty to expand the artery. Lastly, they will place the stent into the now-open artery. This way, it will remain open, pushing out plaque and allowing improved blood flow.

Structural heart procedures

We are proud to offer transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) surgery as an alternative to open-heart surgery. TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure that repairs a damaged aortic valve that is too narrow and restricts blood flow, which can lead to heart failure.

Similarly, transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) is a cutting-edge alternative to open-heart valve surgery. It is often recommended to treat mitral regurgitation for people who are considered to be too high risk for conventional valve repair or replacement surgery. As a minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure, TMVR is also often used to treat people who have previously undergone mitral valve replacement surgery.

Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation

Following a cardiac or cardiopulmonary event or procedure, it may be beneficial to participate in our cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program. In fact, after discharge, many of our patients return to join our rehabilitation program and facilitate a complete and fast recovery.

We have the only cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program in Citrus County. Our trained specialists provide the cardiac and/or respiratory rehabilitative therapies you need to get back to your active life. Specifically, with us you will need fewer and shorter future inpatient visits.

Cardiology Blog

Don’t blow a fuse: Protect your heart during March Madness 

March 06, 2024
Learn how to keep your heart in tip-top shape when cheering for your favorite team with tips from HCA Florida Healthcare.

Don’t blow a fuse: Protect your heart during March Madness 

March 06, 2024
Learn how to keep your heart in tip-top shape when cheering for your favorite team with tips from HCA Florida Healthcare.

7 habits that could be sabotaging your heart health 

February 10, 2024
Could you be putting your heart health at risk without knowing it? We asked HCA Florida Healthcare cardiologist Dr. Allan Stewart to weigh in on seven bad habits for heart health and tips on how to break them.

Is dark chocolate good for your heart? 

February 05, 2024
Tayla Holman
As Valentine's Day approaches, chocolate lovers may be wondering: Is dark chocolate good for your heart? Here's what you should know.

Our Cardiology Locations

Currently Viewing:

Citrus Hospital
502 W Highland Blvd
Inverness, FL 34452
 (352) 726-1551

Currently Viewing:

Citrus Hospital
502 W Highland Blvd
Inverness, FL 34452
 (352) 726-1551
Citrus Hospital Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Center
131 S Citrus Ave
Suite 104
Inverness, FL 34452
 (352) 344 - 6538

0.1 miles

West Marion Hospital
4600 SW 46th Ct
Ocala, FL 34474
 (352) 291 - 3000

22.7 miles