Sport offers considerable health benefits while imposing cardiovascular demands that call for careful distinction between physiological adaptation and disease. This collective clinical reference addresses the assessment and management of the athlete’s heart.
It reviews medical history, physical examination, electrocardiography, echocardiography, coronary computed tomography, cardiovascular magnetic resonance and nuclear imaging, as well as selected invasive investigations. Clinical chapters address syncope, arrhythmias, pre-excitation, valvular disease, cardiomyopathies, myocarditis and pericarditis.
Prevention of sudden cardiac death is a central concern. The book also discusses participation in sport among people with hypertension, coronary disease, congenital heart conditions, patent foramen ovale and implanted cardiac devices, alongside the role of cardiac rehabilitation. Decisions should be proportionate to each patient’s clinical findings and the demands of the intended activity.