Do you have questions for SportsCardiologyBC about our research protocols and study guidelines, the athlete’s heart, or the heart in general? Email us here and we will update our page to include our answers to your questions so we can learn together.
- Family History of coronary artery disease, heart attack and/or stroke
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Sedentary lifestyle
The arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart are called the coronary arteries. These arteries can narrow due to cholesterol build up and fatty deposits on the inner walls, limiting blood flow to the heart. This is called cardiac ischemia. With this limited supply, the heart does not receive the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function properly and can cause angina.
If the blood supply is cut off entirely, a heart attack can occur.
Chest pain caused by a reduced blood flow to the heart is called angina. Angina can also be described as chest squeezing, tightness, pressure, or heaviness. If this is a new pain, please seek medical attention from your family doctor or a hospital depending on severity.
A heart attack occurs when the arteries that supply your heart muscle with oxygen-rich blood (called the coronary arteries) are blocked. The part of the heart muscle that receives the blood from this artery becomes starved for oxygen. When this occurs, the heart muscle cells can die, causing permanent damage to your heart.
Symptoms can include:
- Chest discomfort (pain, tightness, pressure, squeezing)
- Sweating
- Upper body discomfort (jaw, shoulders, arms, back)
- Nausea
- Shortness of breath
- Light-headedness
A stroke occurs when brain tissue does not receive enough oxygen and nutrients due to blocked or reduced blood supply. Brain cells will begin to die, and permanent brain damage can occur. It is important that you act quickly in the event of a stroke, and think
FAST:
Face – watch to see if one side of the face droops when you ask them to smile
Arm – when lifting both arms, see if one of their arms is unable to raise as high as the other
Speech – determine if their speech is slurred or strange when they talk
Time – call 911 or seek emergency medical help immediately if you see these signs
Sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart abruptly stops beating. This is normally an electrical problem that disrupts blood flow to the body. This causes the person to lose consciousness and stop breathing. Immediate action is required to save this person – call 911, start CPR, and use an AED if available.
Sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart abruptly stops beating. This is normally an electrical problem that disrupts blood flow to the body. This causes the person to lose consciousness and stop breathing. Immediate action is required to save this person – call 911, start CPR, and use an AED if available.
Congenital heart disease occurs when a child is born with a heart condition. These conditions can vary from minor to very serious, and can include heart chambers, walls, or valves of the heart that did not develop properly before birth. Medication, cardiac rehabilitation, and surgeries are treatment options available if necessary.
YES – all tests results found through our studies are confidential. These tests are reviewed and confirmed by a cardiologist and if there is any further follow up needed, we will contact you.
If at any time you would like your study results sent to either you or your family doctor, please send us an email with your explicit consent, and we can do that for you.
If further follow up is needed and more tests are ordered (outside of the tests offered through the study), those results are no longer a part of the study and will be included in your patient files.
An informed consent form provides detailed information to interested participants about a study. It includes:
- how the study will be run and which tests will be performed
- the benefits
- the risks
- responsibilities of the participant and the staff
- confidentiality information
- ensuring that the participant understands that their participation is voluntary
- the participant’s signature to show that they have read and understand all points listed in the informed consent form