Dr. Fadi F. Alameddine, MD

Dr. Fadi F. Alameddine, MD Interventional Cardiologist and Heart and Vascular Care

Dr. Fadi F. Alameddine, MD, is an interventional cardiologist providing diagnostic, preventive, and catheter-based care for heart and blood vessel conditions. His clinical background includes internal medicine, general cardiology, nuclear cardiology, interventional cardiology, and procedures used to assess or restore blood flow through narrowed arteries.

Patients may see Dr. Alameddine for chest discomfort, coronary artery disease, abnormal stress-test results, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, shortness of breath, peripheral artery disease, heart failure, or concerns found during cardiac testing.

Public records may list him as Fadi F. Alameddine or Fadi M. Alameddine. Current NPI information identifies both names under the same active physician record, NPI 1659365096.

A referral to an interventional cardiologist does not automatically mean a procedure is necessary. The appointment may result in medication changes, further testing, risk-factor management, continued observation, or a catheter-based treatment when the expected benefits justify it.

About Dr. Fadi F. Alameddine

Dr. Alameddine practices through Cypress Heart and Vascular Center. His official Houston Methodist profile identifies him as a cardiologist with board certification in internal medicine, general cardiology, interventional cardiology, and nuclear cardiology. It also notes focused experience in coronary and peripheral vascular interventions.

His areas of care may include:

• Coronary artery disease
• Chest pain and angina
• Abnormal cardiac test results
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Cardiovascular risk assessment
• Heart failure
• Shortness of breath related to heart disease
• Peripheral artery disease
• Reduced circulation in the legs
• Cardiac catheterization
• Coronary angiography
• Angioplasty and stent placement
• Nuclear cardiac imaging
• Follow-up after a heart attack or coronary procedure
• Medical clearance before selected operations

Patients comparing professionals in this field can review other cardiology specialists through Doctiplus.

Education and Medical Training

Training area	Institution	Details
Medical education	American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine	Doctor of Medicine, completed in 1997
Residency	Emory University Hospital	Internal medicine, completed in 2001
Fellowship	Emory University Hospital	Cardiovascular disease, completed in 2004
Advanced fellowship	Emory University Hospital	Interventional cardiology with coronary and peripheral training, completed in 2005
Board certification	Internal medicine and cardiology boards	Internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, interventional cardiology, and nuclear cardiology

Dr. Alameddine earned his medical degree from the American University of Beirut and then completed his internal medicine residency and cardiology fellowships at Emory University Hospital.

Internal medicine residency provides broad preparation in adult health, including diabetes, kidney disease, lung conditions, infection, blood disorders, and medication management. This foundation is important because cardiovascular disease is often affected by several medical conditions at the same time.

Cardiology fellowship focuses on diagnosing and treating heart disease through clinical evaluation, imaging, stress testing, medication, and long-term monitoring.

Interventional cardiology fellowship adds advanced preparation in catheter-based testing and treatment of narrowed or blocked arteries.

Board Certification and Professional Credentials

Dr. Alameddine’s official institutional profile lists board certification in:

• Internal medicine
• Cardiovascular disease
• Interventional cardiology
• Nuclear cardiology

His active NPI record identifies interventional cardiology as his primary registered specialty, with additional cardiovascular disease and nuclear cardiology classifications.

His professional qualifications include:

• MD, meaning Doctor of Medicine
• Residency training in internal medicine
• Fellowship training in cardiovascular disease
• Advanced fellowship training in interventional cardiology
• Training in coronary and peripheral vascular intervention
• Experience in general and nuclear cardiology

Board certification is separate from state medical licensing. A medical license permits a physician to practice, while board certification reflects formal education, supervised specialty training, and professional assessment.

What an Interventional Cardiologist Does

An interventional cardiologist evaluates heart and blood vessel disease and performs selected procedures through thin, flexible tubes called catheters.

A catheter may be inserted through a blood vessel in the wrist or groin and guided toward the heart or another affected artery.

Catheter-based testing can help:

• Identify narrowed coronary arteries
• Measure pressure within the heart
• Examine blood flow
• Assess selected heart structures
• Investigate abnormal stress-test findings
• Clarify the cause of continuing chest symptoms
• Plan angioplasty, stenting, or another procedure

Cardiac catheterization may be diagnostic only. When a significant blockage is identified, treatment can sometimes be completed during the same procedure. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute describes coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention as common uses of cardiac catheterization.

Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease develops when the arteries supplying the heart cannot provide enough oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. Plaque buildup is a common cause of this narrowing.

Possible symptoms include:

• Chest pressure or tightness
• Shortness of breath
• Reduced exercise ability
• Discomfort in the arm, shoulder, jaw, neck, or back
• Unusual tiredness
• Sweating
• Nausea during activity
• Symptoms triggered by physical or emotional stress

Some patients have few noticeable symptoms until the disease becomes advanced or causes a heart attack.

Evaluation may involve:

• Medical and family history
• Blood pressure assessment
• Cholesterol and blood sugar testing
• Electrocardiogram
• Echocardiogram
• Exercise or medication stress testing
• Nuclear cardiac imaging
• Coronary CT imaging
• Cardiac catheterization and angiography

Treatment depends on the severity, location, and effect of the narrowing. It may include medication, risk-factor management, cardiac rehabilitation, angioplasty, coronary stenting, or referral for bypass surgery.

Chest Pain and Angina

Angina is chest discomfort caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle.

Patients may describe it as:

• Pressure
• Tightness
• Squeezing
• Burning
• Heaviness
• Fullness

Symptoms may appear during exercise, emotional stress, cold weather, or another situation that makes the heart work harder.

Chest discomfort can also come from acid reflux, muscle strain, lung disease, anxiety, or another noncardiac cause. The symptom still needs careful evaluation when it is new, unexplained, recurring, or linked with exertion.

Patients can read more about possible causes of a tight chest feeling and when it may need urgent attention.

New chest pressure that continues at rest, spreads to the arm or jaw, or occurs with sweating, fainting, nausea, or breathing difficulty requires emergency assessment.

Cardiac Catheterization and Coronary Angiography

Cardiac catheterization allows a cardiologist to obtain detailed information about blood flow, artery narrowing, and pressure inside the heart.

During coronary angiography, contrast material is introduced through a catheter so the coronary arteries can be viewed using specialized X-ray imaging.

The procedure may be considered when:

• Chest symptoms suggest reduced heart blood flow
• A stress test is abnormal
• A heart attack is suspected or confirmed
• Symptoms continue despite medication
• Previous coronary treatment needs evaluation
• The cardiologist needs more detailed information before treatment
• Other cardiac tests do not provide a clear answer

Not every abnormal test requires catheterization. The decision should consider symptoms, kidney function, bleeding risk, medical history, and whether the result is likely to change treatment.

Coronary Angioplasty and Stent Placement

Angioplasty is used to open a narrowed or blocked coronary artery.

A small balloon is positioned within the affected area and inflated to create more space for blood flow. A stent may then be placed to help keep the artery open. A stent is a small mesh tube commonly used after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Angioplasty or stenting may be considered for:

• A heart attack caused by an acute blockage
• Significant coronary artery narrowing
• Continuing angina despite medical treatment
• Reduced blood flow found during testing
• Selected high-risk coronary findings
• Narrowing within a previously treated artery

A stent treats a specific narrowed area. It does not remove the underlying tendency to develop plaque in other blood vessels.

Long-term care may still include:

• Cholesterol-lowering medicine
• Blood pressure treatment
• Diabetes management
• Antiplatelet medicine
• Cardiac rehabilitation
• Suitable physical activity
• Avoiding tobacco
• Follow-up testing

Patients should not stop an antiplatelet or blood-thinning medicine after stent placement without direct instructions from the treating cardiology team.

Nuclear Cardiology

Nuclear cardiology uses a small amount of imaging material to assess heart-muscle blood flow and function.

A nuclear stress test may help identify:

• Reduced blood flow during activity
• Areas affected by an earlier heart attack
• Differences between resting and stressed heart function
• Whether chest symptoms may be related to coronary disease
• Whether further testing may be useful

The stress portion may involve treadmill exercise. When exercise is not appropriate, medication may be used to make the heart respond as if it were working harder.

Stress testing is interpreted together with the patient’s symptoms, electrocardiogram, imaging findings, medical history, and physical examination. An abnormal result does not by itself determine whether angioplasty or another procedure is required.

Peripheral Artery Disease

Peripheral artery disease occurs when narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the legs or another area outside the heart.

Possible symptoms include:

• Calf or thigh pain while walking
• Leg heaviness or cramping
• Reduced walking distance
• A cold foot
• Weak pulses
• Numbness
• Changes in skin color
• Slow-healing wounds
• Toe or foot pain at rest

Leg discomfort that appears during walking and improves with rest is sometimes called intermittent claudication. Some people with peripheral artery disease have different symptoms or no obvious symptoms.

Testing may include:

• Pulse examination
• Ankle-brachial index
• Arterial Doppler ultrasound
• CT or MR angiography
• Catheter-based peripheral angiography

Treatment may involve heart-healthy lifestyle changes, a supervised exercise program, medication, treatment of diabetes and cholesterol, or a procedure to open or bypass a blockage.

Dr. Alameddine’s official profile specifically identifies focused expertise in coronary and peripheral interventions.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can gradually damage arteries and increase strain on the heart.

It is associated with a greater risk of:

• Coronary artery disease
• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Stroke
• Kidney disease
• Peripheral artery disease

A cardiology blood pressure review may include:

• Confirming office measurements
• Reviewing home readings
• Checking medication timing
• Assessing side effects
• Reviewing sodium intake
• Examining kidney function
• Discussing sleep problems
• Estimating wider cardiovascular risk
• Looking for possible secondary causes

Dr. Alameddine has also participated in a hypertension-care initiative associated with HCA Houston Healthcare North Cypress.

Patients checking blood pressure at home should record the date, time, reading, pulse, symptoms, and whether medication had already been taken.

High Cholesterol and Cardiovascular Risk

High levels of certain blood fats can contribute to plaque buildup inside arteries.

Treatment decisions are not based on one laboratory number alone. The cardiologist may also consider:

• Age
• Blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Kidney health
• Tobacco exposure
• Family history
• Previous heart or vascular disease
• Earlier heart attack or stroke
• Medication tolerance

Some patients may improve their risk through nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and tobacco avoidance. Others may also need cholesterol-lowering medication.

Routine monitoring can help identify changes in blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar before complications occur. Patients can read about the wider value of regular medical checkups.

Heart Failure

Heart failure means the heart is not pumping or filling as effectively as the body requires. It does not mean the heart has completely stopped working.

Possible symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath
• Reduced energy
• Difficulty lying flat
• Waking during the night feeling breathless
• Swelling in the feet or legs
• Rapid weight gain from fluid
• Persistent coughing
• Reduced exercise tolerance
• Abdominal fullness

Possible causes include coronary artery disease, an earlier heart attack, long-term high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy, valve disease, and abnormal heart rhythms.

Treatment may include lifestyle changes, medication, selected devices, procedures, and treatment of the underlying cause.

Patients with heart failure may be asked to monitor weight, swelling, breathing, blood pressure, and medication use at home.

Palpitations and Abnormal Heart Rhythms

Palpitations may feel like:

• Fluttering
• Racing
• Pounding
• Skipped beats
• Brief pauses
• An irregular heartbeat

Possible causes include heart rhythm disorders, stress, caffeine, thyroid conditions, anemia, dehydration, infection, medication, and electrolyte changes.

Initial evaluation may include:

• Electrocardiogram
• Blood testing
• Echocardiogram
• Wearable heart monitor
• Stress testing
• Medication review

Some rhythm problems can be managed within general cardiology. Complex electrical disorders may require referral to a cardiac electrophysiologist.

Palpitations accompanied by fainting, severe weakness, chest pain, or major breathing difficulty require prompt medical assessment.

Cardiovascular Clearance Before Surgery

A patient may be referred for cardiac evaluation before a noncardiac operation when there is known heart disease, an abnormal electrocardiogram, limited physical ability, significant cardiovascular risk, or a history of coronary intervention.

Preoperative assessment may include:

• Reviewing symptoms
• Examining heart and lung function
• Checking blood pressure
• Reviewing medication
• Assessing functional ability
• Electrocardiogram
• Echocardiography
• Stress testing when appropriate
• Further investigation of concerning findings

The purpose is not simply to provide a clearance letter. It is to identify whether heart-related risks require treatment, additional testing, medication planning, or changes to the surgical approach.

Patients should not stop aspirin, antiplatelet medicine, or another blood thinner before surgery unless the prescribing and surgical teams have provided clear instructions.

Who May Benefit From Seeing Dr. Alameddine

A cardiology consultation may be appropriate for adults who:

• Have continuing or activity-related chest discomfort
• Become short of breath during normal activity
• Have an abnormal stress test
• Have known coronary artery disease
• Need assessment for cardiac catheterization
• Have previously received a coronary stent
• Need follow-up after a heart attack
• Have difficult-to-control blood pressure
• Have high cholesterol and significant cardiovascular risk
• Experience leg pain while walking
• Have poor circulation or a slow-healing foot wound
• Have heart failure symptoms
• Need cardiovascular assessment before surgery
• Want another opinion before an interventional procedure

What Patients Can Expect During an Appointment

The consultation usually begins with a review of symptoms, medical conditions, medicines, and previous cardiac tests.

Dr. Alameddine may ask:

• When did the symptoms begin?
• Do they occur during activity or rest?
• How long does chest discomfort last?
• Does discomfort spread to the arm, jaw, shoulder, or back?
• Is shortness of breath present?
• Has fainting or dizziness occurred?
• Has a heart attack happened before?
• Has a coronary stent been placed?
• Is there diabetes or kidney disease?
• Do the legs hurt during walking?
• Does heart disease run in the family?
• Which medicines and supplements are being taken?

The examination may include checking:

• Blood pressure
• Pulse and rhythm
• Oxygen level
• Heart sounds
• Breathing
• Leg swelling
• Neck blood vessels
• Foot pulses
• Signs of reduced circulation

Possible next steps include medication changes, blood tests, an electrocardiogram, echocardiography, stress testing, rhythm monitoring, vascular testing, cardiac catheterization, or continued observation.

Preparing for the Appointment

Patients can prepare by bringing:

• A complete medication and supplement list
• Medication dosages
• Allergy information
• Home blood pressure readings
• Blood sugar records
• Cholesterol results
• Previous electrocardiograms
• Echocardiogram reports
• Stress-test results
• Cardiac catheterization records
• Coronary stent information
• Vascular ultrasound reports
• Hospital discharge documents
• Insurance and referral information
• Written questions

Patients who have received a coronary stent should bring their stent information card when available.

A brief symptom record can also help. It should explain when symptoms happen, how long they last, whether they are linked to activity, and what makes them improve.

Questions to Ask Dr. Alameddine

Patients may consider asking:

• What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
• Do my test results suggest coronary artery disease?
• Which additional tests are necessary?
• Why is cardiac catheterization being considered?
• Could medication be tried before a procedure?
• What would angioplasty or a stent improve?
• Are there reasonable alternatives?
• Could my symptoms be related to peripheral artery disease?
• How should I monitor blood pressure at home?
• Which medicines should I continue before testing?
• Could contrast material affect my kidneys?
• What are the main procedural risks?
• Will cardiac rehabilitation be recommended?
• When should I return for follow-up?
• Which symptoms require emergency care?

Patients should understand the purpose of a proposed test or procedure and how its results may change treatment.

Practice and Appointment Information

Dr. Alameddine provides care through Cypress Heart and Vascular Center.

Houston Methodist Cypress Office

24518 Northwest Freeway, Medical Office Building 2, Suite 355
Cypress, TX 77429

North Cypress Office

21212 Northwest Freeway, Suite 505
Cypress, TX 77429

Appointment phone:
832-688-8400

Houston Methodist currently lists both locations and identifies Dr. Alameddine as accepting new patients. Its profile does not currently list video visits. Patients should confirm the correct office when scheduling because location availability can change.

Current NPPES-derived practice information identifies the 24518 Northwest Freeway location as the main registered address for Cypress Heart and Vascular Center.

Hospital Affiliations

Dr. Alameddine’s official Houston Methodist profile lists an affiliation with Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital and membership in the Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center.

He is also listed through HCA Houston Healthcare as an interventional cardiologist associated with its cardiovascular services.

Hospital participation may depend on the procedure, current privileges, insurance network, and facility availability. Patients should confirm which hospital would be used before scheduling testing or treatment.

Language and Communication

Houston Methodist lists English as a language available through Dr. Alameddine or his office. Other public directories also associate Arabic, French, and Spanish with his provider profile, but patients should confirm the availability of their preferred language when booking.

Patients who require an interpreter should request one before the appointment.

Insurance, New Patients, and Telehealth

Insurance coverage depends on the patient’s exact plan, office, hospital, testing facility, and procedure.

Before scheduling, patients should ask:

• Is Dr. Alameddine included in my current network?
• Is a primary care referral required?
• Does stress testing need prior authorization?
• Is nuclear imaging covered?
• Is the catheterization facility in network?
• Are the physician and hospital billed separately?
• Are laboratory and imaging charges separate?
• Are new patients currently being scheduled?
• Is telehealth available for any follow-up visits?
• Should earlier records be sent before the appointment?

The official Houston Methodist profile currently lists new-patient availability but no video visits. This status may change, so it should be confirmed directly with the office.

When Heart or Circulation Symptoms Require Emergency Care

Patients should not wait for a routine cardiology appointment when symptoms may indicate a heart attack, stroke, severe rhythm disorder, or sudden loss of blood flow.

Urgent assessment may be needed for:

• New or severe chest pressure
• Chest discomfort with sweating or nausea
• Pain spreading to the arm, jaw, back, or shoulder
• Severe breathing difficulty
• Sudden fainting
• A rapid or irregular heartbeat with weakness
• Sudden confusion
• New weakness on one side
• New difficulty speaking
• Sudden loss of vision
• A cold, pale, blue, painful, or numb limb
• Heavy bleeding from a catheter access site
• Rapidly increasing swelling with breathing problems
• Serious symptoms after a heart or vascular procedure

Emergency evaluation is critical when a heart attack is suspected. An electrocardiogram is commonly performed soon after arrival at the hospital to assess possible heart injury.

Patients can also review Doctiplus guidance about when immediate medical attention is the right choice, but severe symptoms should be assessed without delay.