Peer Reviewed
Perspectives
Sudden cardiac death in the athlete
Recent articles on:
Cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest
Abstract
Physiological stress may trigger fatal cardiac events in athletes with an unknown cardiac condition.
Key Points
- The presence of exertional symptoms such as syncope, chest pain or palpitations should trigger referral of the patient for specialist assessment.
- Apparent good health and exercise capacity provide no reassurance regarding potentially serious inheritable conditions.
- Life-saving treatments such as implantable defibrillators, catheter ablations and medications are available and appropriate for people at high or moderate risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
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