糖心传媒

An electrocardiogram (ECG) shows your heart鈥檚 electrical impulses and assesses your heart鈥檚 chamber size, muscle thickness, and heart rhythm. An abnormal ECG could indicate a heart condition. However, ECG patterns considered abnormal in the general population may actually be normal in athletes.听

People who take part in intense physical activities have changes in their hearts over time (athlete鈥檚 heart). While most of these changes are normal, diseases that impact the heart and blood vessels may lead to changes in heart chamber size, heart muscle thickness, or aorta size. We perform advanced evaluations to differentiate athlete鈥檚 heart from heart disease.

An irregular heartbeat (cardiac arrhythmia) can be a sign of numerous conditions, including:

• Atrial fibrillation (AFib)
• Supraventricular tachycardia
• Ventricular tachycardia
• Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome

Heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy) can affect your heart鈥檚 ability to pump blood. Your heart can become larger, thicker, stiffer, or weaker. We work to create safe exercise prescriptions for athletes with cardiomyopathy.听

Extra sounds made by your heart during a heartbeat (heart murmurs) can be harmless (innocent) or related to a heart problem (abnormal).听

Some types of heart disease can be passed on through families (inherited cardiovascular disease). These conditions can sometimes lead to sudden cardiac death, heart failure, or heart attack without proper care.

We evaluate signs and symptoms that appear during or after physical exertion, such as:

• Chest pain, pressure, or discomfort
• Excessive fatigue or shortness of breath (dyspnea)
• Failure to perform up to expectations or drop in performance
• Faster than normal heartbeat (unexplained tachycardia) or irregular heartbeat
• Loss of consciousness (syncope) or near syncope

A cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) evaluates how your heart and lungs respond to exercise. It also measures the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in your blood, your blood pressure, and your heart鈥檚 electrical activity.

We use CPET to:

• Diagnose heart and lung conditions
• Help athletes train more effectively
• Help those with cardiac conditions exercise safely

Athletes often refer to CPET as a VO2听max test. We use VO2听max testing to determine your aerobic endurance and cardiovascular fitness levels. It measures the maximum amount of oxygen you use during intense exercise.

During this test, you wear a face mask and ECG sensors while exercising on a treadmill or bike, increasing your exercise intensity every few minutes until you reach maximum exertion. We evaluate:

• Gas exchange, including the maximum amount of oxygen you use
• How well your lungs work (pulmonary function testing)
• Your heart鈥檚 blood supply during exercise (ECG stress testing)
• Your maximum heart rate

We measure your heart鈥檚 electrical activity by placing sensors on your arms, chest, and legs (ECG). An ECG also assesses heart chamber size, rhythm, and muscle thickness.

We offer evaluations to diagnose more complex heart conditions, including:

• Cardiac MRI: Cardiac MRI is a painless scan that produces detailed images of your heart and blood vessels.
• CT coronary angiogram: A CT coronary angiogram uses X-rays to create 3D images of your coronary arteries.

You can wear a portable device that monitors your heart rhythm over time as you train. Ambulatory ECG monitoring can help to diagnose abnormal heart rates and arrhythmias.

An exercise echocardiogram, also called a stress echo, uses ultrasound to see how your heart responds to exercise. We first do an ultrasound while you鈥檙e resting and then again after exercise on a treadmill or bike.

We provide testing for heart conditions that may have a genetic component. We can also schedule interviews with genetic counselors who have expertise in exercise-related cardiac conditions.

We may suggest blood tests to measure your:

• Cholesterol and lipoprotein levels
• Complete blood count
• Electrolyte levels
• Kidney, thyroid, or liver function

We can analyze fitness data from wearables, including the Apple Watch, Fitbit, Garmin, and other devices.

Our team offers second opinions or independent and confidential consultations, particularly for professional athletes.