Regular exercise is one of the most effective methods to keep the heart healthy and efficient. Today, we’re joined by experts in the fields of sports cardiology and exercise physiology, as well as an athlete with firsthand experience in the matter.

In this episode, host Myra Cocker, Assistant Professor of Cardiology at Houston Methodist Hospital and Global Director of Clinical Science for Cardiovascular Ultrasound at Siemens Healthineers, welcomes:

• Dr. Jonathan Kim, Associate Professor and Founding Director at Emory University Sports Cardiology and Team Cardiologist for Georgia Tech, the Atlanta Falcons, Hawks, and Braves.
• Dr. Dominique Hansen, Professor of Rehabilitation and Exercise Physiology in Cardiometabolic Diseases at Universiteit Hasselt in Belgium and Secretary of the European Association of Preventive Cardiology
• Daniel Engelbrecht, retired professional soccer player and cardiology patient

What you’ll learn in this episode:
• How cardiac risk can affect older and younger elite athletes differently
• Cardiac events can stem from myocarditis, caused by an infectious disease.
• Red flag symptoms when it comes to cardiac events while exercising, including intense chest pressure or loss of consciousness
• The use of Automated External Defibrillators is a critical first response strategy in the event of cardiac arrest.
• Implementation of an exercise program can be essential when treating a patient who has experienced, or is at risk for, cardiovascular disease.
• For patients who have suffered from major cardiac events, their timeline for return to sports or intense physical activity is heavily dependent on a number of individual factors.


00:00 Sports and cardiac health
01:40 Exercise and cardiovascular health: an overview
08:45 Cardiac events in elite athletes
14:29 The importance of first response preparedness
17:23 Rehabilitation protocol after a cardiac event
22:40 Activity trackers and cardiac rehab
24:25 Conclusion