Sports medicine has been receiving increased exposure in communication media for a number of reasons. First, the mass introduction of social media and smartphones has dramatically increased the impact of health-related incidents, in particular cardiac arrests, occurring during sporting events [1]. Such catastrophes are exceedingly rare, but there are countless cameras present at sporting events...

Sudden death in healthy athletes is uncommon but, when it occurs, the primary mechanism is cardiovascular. The major cause of sudden death in the young athlete is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or related conditions characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy, aortic rupture due to cystic medial necrosis and congenital coronary artery abnormalities. In the middle-aged or older athlete, coronary ...

and the Assessment of Cardiovascular Disease in Masters Athletes To the Editor: The authors of the American Heart Association (AHA) Science Advisory “Recommendations for Preparticipation Screening and the Assessment of Cardiovascular Disease in Masters Athletes”1 are to be commended for their intent but criticized for their omission of electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) evaluation of calc...

in sudden cardiovascular death in young competitive athletes after implementation of a preparticipation screening program. JAMA 2006;296: 1593–1601. 42. Noheria A, Teodorescu C, Uy-Evanado A, Reinier K, Mariani R, Gunson K, Jui J, Chugh SS. Distinctive profile of sudden cardiac arrest in middle-aged vs. older adults: a community-based study. Int J Cardiol 2013 May 16, doi:pii: S0167-5273(13)008...

Regular participation in intensive physical exercise is associated with several structural and electrophysiological cardiac adaptations that enhance diastolic filling and facilitate a sustained increase in the cardiac output that is fundamental to athletic excellence. Such cardiac adaptations are collectively referred to as the 'Athlete's Heart' and are frequently reflected on the 12-lead ECG a...

We appreciate the interest in our article shown by Dr. Zigor adaria and agree with him that echocardiography is a sensitive ethod for the diagnosis of silent heart disease and, specifically, r the identification of the origin of both coronary arteries. wever, in contrast to an earlier report, recent studies seem to ace greater importance on the need for surgical treatment of omalous origin of t...

The epidemiology of sports injuries helps identify the necessity for medical event coverage, injury risk factors, and potential prevention strategies. The preparticipation examination provides an opportunity for the team physician to identify athletes at risk of injury, to teach injury prevention, and to address athlete wellness. Knowledge of performance-enhancing drugs, nutritional supplements...