Before You Start, Check Your Heart!

Sudden Death During Recreational or Competitive Sports

You may occassionally see on the news that someone has died suddenly during athletic activity. Sudden death during athletic competition is fortunately uncommon, but is nonetheless a tragic even that many times is preventable. Sudden death on the playing field can be caused by several things but is most often attributed to an underlying and undiagnosed heart condition. Simple preventive measures can identify who may be at risk.

The Division of Cardiology at St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospitals, well known for their outstanding cardiac care, has created a unique program dedicated to reducing the heart risks associated with participation in competitive and recreational sports and exercise, including weight training.

This program is for people who would like to begin an exercise program and:

• Have been inactive
• Are older and want to be more active with regular exercise
• Play competitive team or individual sports
• Have a family history of sudden cardiac death, irregular heart rhythms, or other congenital heart problems
• Have symptoms including fainting, chest pain, or shortness of breath
• Have been told that their heart exam is abnormal

Services Provided

• Initial evaluation by a sports cardiologist
• EKG, and review of all cardiovascular disease risk factors (family history, BP, cholesterol)
• Stress testing, Echocardiograms, Advanced heart rhythm monitoring (if indicated)
• Consultation, if indicated, with the program's heart rhythm experts (electrophysiologists)

Program Physicians

Merle Myerson, MD, EdD, FACC, Director Dr. Merle Myerson is Director of the Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Program at St. Luke’s and Roosevelt Hospitals, and is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease. Dr. Myerson is an expert on lipid management and cardiovascular disease risk factor reduction, and holds a doctorate in Applied Physiology with a specialty in exercise physiology.

Mark Sherrid, MD, FACC Echocardiography/Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Program