Understanding the Condition
Sports cardiology focuses on the cardiovascular health of athletes and active individuals. Whilst exercise is excellent for the heart, intensive training places unique demands on the cardiovascular system. Dr Navin Chandra helps patients distinguish between normal adaptations of the “athlete’s heart” and genuine cardiac conditions requiring treatment or activity modification.
Symptoms
- Chest pain during exercise
- Palpitations on exertion
- Unexplained breathlessness
- Collapse or near-collapse during sport
Common Causes
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Long QT syndrome
- Exercise-induced arrhythmia
- Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
Treatment Options
Dr Chandra provides pre-participation cardiac screening, exercise ECG testing, and personalised management plans helping patients train and compete safely at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot.
- Pre-participation cardiac screening
- Exercise treadmill stress testing
- Resting and stress echocardiography
- Ambulatory Holter monitoring
- Cardiac MRI for cardiomyopathy
- Arrhythmia management and review
- Return-to-sport assessment
- Fitness-to-compete medical letters
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an athlete's heart and is it dangerous?
Athlete’s heart describes the normal structural changes the heart undergoes in response to sustained training including mild enlargement and increased wall thickness. These adaptations are entirely benign. However, they can mimic the appearance of pathological conditions on ECG or echocardiogram. Dr Chandra has the expertise to distinguish between the two, ensuring patients are neither unnecessarily restricted from sport nor placed at undue risk.
Should my child have a cardiac screening before competitive sport?
Cardiac screening is recommended for young athletes competing at club level and above. Inherited conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and long QT syndrome may be identified on a simple ECG or echocardiogram, often before any symptoms occur. Dr Chandra sees patients from their teenage years upwards and provides thorough, reassuring assessments at Heatherwood Hospital, Ascot.
Can I return to sport after a heart attack?
Many patients return successfully to running, cycling, and endurance events following a heart attack, provided cardiac function has recovered adequately and appropriate rehabilitation is complete. Dr Chandra performs a comprehensive return-to-sport evaluation, including exercise testing and a review of current medications, and works with cardiac rehabilitation specialists to support a safe, progressive return to activity.