In short
A cardiologist assessment can help if you have new or unexplained heart-related symptoms, a known heart condition that needs specialist review, or risk factors your doctor would like assessed. Sudden or severe symptoms are different: they need emergency care straight away, not an appointment.
When to seek emergency care
Do not wait for an appointment and do not use the appointment request link if you have any of the following. Seek emergency medical care immediately.
- Chest pain, pressure, tightness or heaviness that comes on suddenly or does not settle
- Pain spreading to the arm, jaw, neck, back or stomach
- Chest discomfort with breathlessness, sweating, nausea, light-headedness or fainting
- Sudden severe breathlessness, collapse or a very fast, irregular heartbeat with feeling unwell
Busamed Hillcrest 24-Hour Emergency Unit: 031 768 8911. This information must never delay emergency care.
Symptoms worth having checked
These symptoms are not always caused by the heart, but they are worth discussing with a doctor, particularly if they are new, getting worse or affecting daily life:
- Chest discomfort, tightness or pressure that comes on with exertion and eases with rest
- Breathlessness that is new, or more than you would expect for the activity
- Palpitations that are frequent or long-lasting, or that come with dizziness or chest discomfort
- Fainting, or feeling as if you are about to faint
- Swollen ankles or legs, or a noticeable drop in how much you can do
Risk factors and known conditions
A specialist opinion may also be useful if you have high blood pressure that is hard to control, diabetes together with other risk factors, a close relative who developed heart disease at a young age, a heart murmur, a previous heart problem, or a test result that needs interpreting.
How your GP and a cardiologist work together
Your general practitioner often coordinates your care and may suggest a cardiology opinion. Whether you need a referral, and how fees and medical aid apply, can vary — please confirm these directly with the practice before your appointment.
Two examples
Someone who feels tightness in the chest when walking uphill, which settles after a few minutes of rest, should arrange a medical assessment soon.
Someone with sudden, crushing chest pain and sweating while sitting still should seek emergency medical care immediately.
Questions to ask your clinical team
- Could my symptoms be coming from my heart?
- Which tests, if any, would help answer that question?
- Which symptoms should make me seek urgent care?
Common questions
Do I need a referral to see a cardiologist?+
This depends on the practice and your medical aid. Please confirm with the practice when you request an appointment.
Should I wait for an appointment if my symptoms are severe?+
No. Sudden, severe or worsening symptoms need emergency medical care immediately.
Sources and further reading
- NHS — Chest pain
- NHS — Heart palpitations
- NHS — Heart failure
- Busamed — Dr Ramagaga Zama specialist profile
General patient education written in plain language and informed by the sources above. It is not a substitute for an individual assessment, and does not describe practice-specific fees, referral rules or preparation — please confirm these with the practice.