When a person starts a new sport, there are a series of tests that should be performed beforehand. The tests that we usually recommend are, at least, the following: An electrocardiogram A Doppler echocardiogram A stress test In this way, a complete study can be carried out, with the aim of ruling out silent cardiopathies. … Read more
The health benefits of sport are well known, but we are also aware of the dangers that can be associated with the practice of sport when suffering from undiagnosed heart disease. In this article we review the cardiological tests that athletes should undergo regularly and for this we have the contribution of Dr. José María … Read more
A stress test is used to detect a person’s physical capacity and cardiovascular and respiratory response to physical exercise. Together with other clinical assessments, such as echocardiography, it helps to diagnose various heart diseases such as coronary problems or arrhythmias. What type of people is the stress test intended for? The profile of patients who … Read more
Ischemic heart disease is the most common heart disease, and occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is reduced due to a partial or complete blockage of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. Ischemic heart disease, a very common disease in cardiology, can damage the heart muscle, reducing its ability to … Read more
Angina pectoris is a generally painful and/or oppressive discomfort, acute, gradual and usually appears in the center of the chest, although it can extend to the left arm, both arms, back or area below the sternum. Although it is a serious disease, with proper treatment and a heart-healthy lifestyle it can be controlled. Ischemic heart … Read more
Angina pectoris is the clinical manifestation of chest pain or tightness. The cause is the deficit of blood supply in the coronary arteries, in most cases caused by cholesterol plaque. Medical advances in cardiology make it possible to detect such obstructions, and even to clear them. However, if the obstruction is very serious, surgery or … Read more
Although the primary indication for implantation of a pacemaker or an implantable defibrillator (ICD) may not be the intention to continue playing sports, their practice is not incompatible. It has been demonstrated that sport has wide-ranging psychosocial benefits that favor quality of life in general and, in particular, that of individuals with cardiovascular disease. One … Read more
Obesity-associated metabolic syndrome is the set of symptoms caused by clinical alterations associated with excessive fat deposition in the chest and abdomen. These are high blood pressure, diabetes and increased blood cholesterol levels. These alterations can eventually lead to heart attacks, strokes or other vascular ailments, which ultimately result in a decrease in life expectancy. … Read more
In general, “heart disease” refers to any disease affecting the heart, including diseases of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathies), its valves (valvular heart disease), coronary arteries (ischemic heart disease), rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias), various other conditions present at birth (congenital heart disease), including those affecting the aorta (aortopathies). However, terminology equates “cardiopathy” with “cardiomyopathy”, and all the … Read more
Interventional cardiology in structural and congenital pathology comprises a set of percutaneous access procedures to reach the heart. Initially, it was created for the treatment of coronary artery lesions, but nowadays, it also treats non-coronary pathologies, valvulopathies, coarctation of the aorta or congenital defects, among others. What does interventional cardiology in structural and congenital pathology … Read more