Cardiovascular Medicine

Videos

Watch Mayo Clinic cardiologists and others discuss many conditions and treatments related to cardiovascular diseases and cardiovascular surgery.

The Chest Pain and Coronary Physiology Clinic helps people who have chest pain who can't be treated with standard approaches. For many people, chest pain is a serious, life-threatening situation. But for those who have survived one or more heart attacks or who have other heart conditions, chest pain can be a long-term disease. Other terms for chest pain are angina and intractable angina.

The experienced staff of the Chest Pain and Coronary Physiology Clinic evaluate and treat people with chest pain that's undiagnosed, serious, complex or unresolved.

The clinic's multidisciplinary team is made up of doctors trained in heart conditions (cardiologists), digestive tract conditions (gastroenterologists), pain medicine, anesthesia, vascular medicine and women's health. These experts work together to diagnose chronic chest pain and develop a personalized treatment plan that aligns with your needs and goals.

Conditions treated

You may be assessed and treated in the Chest Pain and Coronary Physiology Clinic if:

• You have coronary artery disease or unusual chest pain.
• You have had a heart attack, coronary angioplasty or stents, or coronary bypass surgery and continue to have chest pain.
• You have a complex cardiac history or known coronary artery disease and no longer can be treated with conventional angioplasty or cardiac surgery.
• You have coronary spasm or coronary endothelial disease.

Services

Your evaluation in the Chest Pain and Coronary Physiology Clinic may involve:

• Comprehensive evaluation and testing. This may include blood tests, an electrocardiogram (ECG), a chest X-ray, an echocardiogram, an angiogram or stress testing. You also may need tests for blood vessel (vascular) function and mental stress.
• Patient education. A health care professional will discuss with you how to make healthy lifestyle changes to help prevent or slow the progression of heart disease. You also may receive recommendations on blood pressure measurement and control, exercise, a healthy-eating plan, how to stop smoking, and stress management.
• Risk assessment and management. You'll complete a health history to pinpoint risk factors for heart disease and other chest pain-related diseases. You also may be referred to the Cardiovascular Health Clinic.
• Treatment options. You may be treated with medicine, surgery or another therapeutic option, such as spinal cord stimulation. You also may be approached to participate in research trials to treat chest pain.

Continuity of care

Continuity of care is important because you represent a complex system of organs and functions that are best viewed by a team of experts working together from a single, complete and reliable base of information.

Mayo Clinic maintains a single electronic medical record that follows you from appointment to appointment. Each doctor works from the same medical record, which is continuously updated throughout the course of your care, including thorough follow-up care. Following diagnosis, you may continue to receive follow-up care in the Chest Pain and Coronary Physiology Clinic.

Innovative research

Doctors in the Chest Pain and Coronary Physiology Clinic conduct clinical research to better understand chest pain and develop new diagnostic and treatment options. Ask your doctor about whether you may enter a clinical study related to your condition.

Learn more about research in the Cardiovascular Research Center.

Appointments

You may be referred by your primary doctor, or you may make an appointment without a referral.

Nationally recognized expertise

Mayo Clinic is top-ranked in more specialties than any other hospital and has been recognized as an Honor Roll member according to the U.S. News & World Report's 2024-2025 "Best Hospitals" rankings.

Mayo Clinic campuses are nationally recognized for expertise in cardiology and cardiovascular surgery:

• Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, are ranked among the Best Hospitals for heart and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report.
• Mayo Clinic Children's Center in Rochester is ranked the No. 1 hospital in Minnesota, and the five-state region of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2024–2025 "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings.