St. Elizabeth’s Dr. Travis Huffman shares how the sports cardiology program helps keep athletes active and healthy.
Q: Can you explain what sports cardiology is?
A: Sports and exercise cardiology is a focus within cardiology that provides care for athletes and physically active people participating in professional or recreational activities. It helps manage those who have an existing heart condition as well as diagnose and treat new heart-related symptoms or conditions. Our providers understand how physical exertion impacts heart health and the importance of helping individuals continue their athletic program without compromising their heart health.
Q: Active individuals are generally considered healthy. Why would an active, physically fit person need a sports cardiologist?
A: While active individuals are generally healthier because of the benefits regular exercise has on the heart and lungs, these individuals are still at risk for developing cardiovascular disease. Sports cardiologists can help:
- Prevent and diagnose heart conditions.
- Manage unique heart and lung risks in athletes.
- Provide individualized care that aligns with an active lifestyle.
- Offer enhanced screenings and monitor existing conditions.
- Provide education on how to exercise safely, recognize signs of potential heart problems and how to balance activities with rest and recovery.
Q: Which types of known cardiovascular disease do you see in athletes?
A: As far as known cardiovascular disease, we commonly care for individuals with genetic cardiomyopathy (inherited disorder of the heart muscle) and congenital (present at birth) heart disease.
For newly diagnosed heart conditions or new symptoms, our program regularly sees patients with high blood pressure, heart failure and coronary artery disease, or CAD. As mentioned, athletes and very active individuals are not completely immune from developing heart issues. Often, a genetic predisposition or some other acquired condition – such as high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol – contributes to the development of heart conditions in athletes.
During rigorous activity, some athletes start to develop cardiovascular symptoms. This may seem counterintuitive because exercise generally contributes to improved heart health. However, because they push themselves physically, heart symptoms may manifest differently than the general population. In addition, any new symptoms are brought to the surface sooner than they may have been otherwise.
Q: Why would a person be referred for a sports cardiology evaluation?
A: We’ll see patients with what’s referred to as “athlete’s heart” or “athletic cardiac remodeling.” Certain structural changes can occur in an athlete’s heart due to their high level of physical activity. These can present as abnormalities on a routine EKG or ECG. In this case, a primary care provider may refer a person for further testing.
I can then tease out whether the abnormality the referring provider noticed is an expected physiologic response to their sport or if it’s something abnormal and needs specialized attention. The knowledge of a sports cardiologist is a key component of an active person’s health care team and crucial in treating conditions like athlete’s heart, exercise-induced arrhythmias or other heart issues that may arise from prolonged physical exertion.
Q: What sports cardiology tests are offered?
A: Whether a person has a new or existing heart condition, I perform a series of tests to ensure that it’s safe for that person to continue participating in their sport or activity. Depending on the diagnosis or symptoms, the tests may include electrocardiogram (EKG), echocardiogram (ECG), CT scan, cardiac MRI or cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).
The results of those tests allow us to provide customized recommendations so the person can continue to take part in something they enjoy – with the peace of mind that they’re doing it safely.
Q: What treatments do you offer athletes and active individuals?
A: Taking into account the results of the tests, the individual’s diagnosis, their sport or activity and other factors, I typically provide an exercise prescription. This includes return-to-exercise and participation recommendations. I coordinate this with our sports medicine doctors. Other members of the sports cardiology care team may include athletic trainers and an exercise physiologist.
Emergency action protocols that provide details on what should happen if the person has an emergency during physical activity are a critical component of our program. I can also prescribe medications to help manage the individual’s condition.
For those who may need additional treatment, such as coronary stenting or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), I can coordinate care with an interventional cardiologist.
Q: What is sudden cardiac death in athletes?
A: Sudden cardiac arrest (death) occurs when an active individual with no known heart problems or symptoms dies during physical exertion. It’s fortunately quite rare. In younger adults under age 35, structural heart abnormalities or arrhythmia are the primary cause. For adults over age 35, coronary artery disease is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death.
Q: What ages of patients do you provide care for?
A: We treat patients who are 18 and older. This includes young athletes who participate in sports and adults over age 35, who we refer to as “master athletes.”
Q: How do people get started if they are interested in sports cardiology care?
A: In most cases, patients are referred to me by their primary care provider or a sports medicine doctor. You can also call 859-287-3045 for more information on our sports cardiology services.
