It happens all too often: A star athlete drops and suddenly dies. The Media dramatizes the event and then it is forgotten until it hits us again. Can this be avoided? The athlete could be a novice or professional. The athlete can be white or black. He can be from Africa or America. This process transcends color and ability. The phenomena is Sudden Cardiac Death in an athlete.
Exercise helps us feel and look better, but in fact it helps shape up our cardiovascular system as well. The heart becomes very efficient in its function and the arteries become healthier. In fact regular exercise helps in improving hypertension and even delay diabetes. This is why we need to be engaged in routine exercise. My definition of an athlete is anyone that does routine exercise whether it is at the professional level or basic level. In general exercise can induce and bring to light hidden cardiovascular disease states. If the athlete is older, then he may have a hidden underlying coronary artery disease that can suddenly manifest itself in sudden cardiac arrest. If the athlete is younger than 35 years of age, then there may be a hidden underlying structural heart disease such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that can lead to sudden cardiac death.
Research in Europe, particularly in Italy has shown that this phenomena can be reduced by 85 % if the athlete is screened appropriately. Unfortunately, lack of leadership and lack of budget set for this in schools have hindered us from reducing this.
My advice to all who are athletes is to be a smart athlete. Know your body. If you have any symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath that is beyond normal, sudden passing out spells, feeling of palpitations with or without exercise, dizziness, a family history of heart disease or sudden death, then make sure that you ask for assistance from a physicians who is well versed in the field of Cardiovascular medicine
Dr. Manshadi is multi board certified Cardiologist who has a private practice in Stockton, California supplemented with an academic position as Associated Clinical Professor of medicine at UC Davis Department of Cardiovascular Medicine. His main area of practice is in interventional Cardiology and in Athletic Heart. He also serves as the Chair of Media Relations for American College of Cardiology for California. He has been voted as America’s Top physicians by Castle Connolly and his picture has been featured in American Airline Magazine as such. He has degree in Physiology from UC Davis followed by MD from The Chicago Medical School. He has done his training in internal Medicine and Cardiology at California Pacific Med Center in San Francisco and UC Davis in Sacramento respectively. He has lived in the Sacramento, Elk Grove, and Stockton area for the past 32 years.