Author Description

The sudden death of an athlete is a highly tragic and emotional event. Recent data suggest that death rates are greater than previously reported and a screening strategy with the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) may help identify those athletes at risk. One of the main concerns about cardiac testing in athletes is the high number of false positive rates because athletic conditioning is associated with a number of electrical and structural modifications which occasionally overlap with disorders commonly implicated in sudden cardiac death. For the practicing sports medicine physician at the front line of sports cardiology, this comprehensive and authoritative resource provides a centralized source of information which addresses this important topic in an accessible manner. This book recognises the broad role sports physicians play, from liaison between athlete, family, specialist, and coaching staff based on the identification of pathological heart disease, to being first to respond when an athlete collapses. The chapters include basic science of disease and disorders, pathophysiology, diagnosis, the effect or role of exercise, and clinical management guidance. The seven sections of this book include information on: the basic science of cardiac function, the prevention of sudden death, specific cardiac disorders predisposing individuals to sudden cardiac death, management and screening of athletes, and the provision of emergency care. This book: • Provides a comprehensive and authoritative overview on all aspects of sports cardiology • Addresses cardiac abnormalities confronting Olympic athletes, Paralympic athletes, as well as athletes competing on all other levels of competition • Endorsed by the Medical Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) • Written and edited by global thought leaders in sports medicine An essential resource for sports medicine physicians, cardiologists, sports cardiologists, p