Sports cardiology is a special field within sports medicine. It deals with the effects of sporting activities on the cardiovascular system (cardiovascular system). Below you will find interesting information on the subject of sports cardiology. Find out which diagnostic options are used and when you should consult a sports cardiologist.
Sports cardiology is a medical specialty that deals with heart health and sports medicine. The subject of this specialty is the holistic effect of physical activity on people.
Doctors pay particular attention to:
Sports cardiology deals with the effects of physical activity and sport on the cardiovascular system @ serafino /AdobeStockBecause as has been confirmed time and again: Sport and physical activity often play an important role in the prevention and treatment of various medical conditions.
With targeted training programs, it is possible to support the cardiovascular system with sports cardiology. But even as a recreational and professional athlete, you need sports cardiology prevention with appropriate check-ups.
In this way, you can prevent possible cardiac events (sudden cardiac death). The field of sports cardiology is therefore quite comprehensive and cannot always be clearly distinguished from other areas of medicine.
The cardiovascular system includes the small pulmonary circulation, through which the deoxygenated blood receives oxygen again.
It also includes the large circulatory system. This pumps the oxygen-rich blood throughout the body and later returns it to the small pulmonary circulation.
All complaints that fall into this area are relevant to sports cardiology.
Examples are
Sports cardiology covers a broad spectrum of areas, ranging from healthy recreational athletes to patients with heart disease.
Doctors often draw up individually tailored training plans for treatment, which are intended to lead to positive results in the case of illnesses and complaints.
The following patient groups are usually examined, advised and treated by sports cardiologists:
The following people should have a sports cardiology examination before starting a new sport:
Even if you or a close relative already suffer from a known cardiovascular disease, regular examinations by a sports cardiologist are advisable.
They will give you the necessary certainty that the intensity of exercise and type of sport are appropriate for your health condition.
A sports cardiologist is the right person to contact if you experience heart problems (heart pain, palpitations or a racing heart), shortness of breath, dizziness or fainting during exercise.
The sports cardiologist carries out examinations to check the functionality of the heart, lungs and vascular system.
These include
The examinations can be carried out at rest. However, they are often followed by an exercise test. Various devices are available for these so-called exercise or performance tests.
Bicycle ergometers and treadmills are usually used for conventional exercise tests. Sometimes a rowing machine is also used .
The purpose of these devices is to assess physical performance from a sports cardiology perspective. In this way, the patient can recognize risk situations in advance and avoid them after receiving detailed information.
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Male athlete performing cardiac stress test @ AH! Studio /AdobeStock
Spiroergometry: With the help of spiroergometry, the doctor can measure oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide release under stress and identify any abnormalities in this regard.
Resting ECG: In order to detect abnormal changes in the resting ECG of athletes, a so-called sports ECG is often performed.
This enables the sports cardiologist to recognize whether the patient suffers from the following complaints due to many years of intensive training:
Exercise ECG: With an exercise ECG, the sports cardiologist determines your performance limits and checks your cardiovascular functions.
This is done using a bicycle ergometer or treadmill with different, individually adjustable exercise levels. At the same time, the exercise electrocardiogram records how your heart reacts under this load.
Echocardiography: Echocardiography is mainly used in competitive sports. To differentiate between stress-related and pathological heart changes, doctors measure
Cardiac MRI: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is an imaging procedure that shows the following:
You can obtain a list of appropriate specialists in your area from your health insurance company or the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians.
However, special clinics and hospital departments are also recommended for examinations in this specialist area. They often even have a wider range of diagnostic equipment that is not available to a sports doctor in private practice.
If possible, seek advice by telephone in advance. Because which examinations make sense varies from case to case.
Depending on the age, the symptoms of the complaints and the particular strain, a recommendation may vary.
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