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.
Certain conditions, lifestyle habits, as well as your age and family history can increase your risk of heart disease. These are called heart disease risk factors.
According to Heart and Stroke, a surprising 9 in 10 Canadians have at least 1 risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
Some of these risk factors are non-modifiable, meaning that you cannot control them.
- Age: heart disease can happen at any age, but the risk of a cardiovascular event increase as you get older. With age, there is a decrease in elasticity and a thickening of the arterial walls. This increases the resistance that the heart must pump against to move blood through the body.
- Family History of coronary artery disease, heart attack and/or stroke: Genetic factors may play a role in high blood pressure, heart disease, and other related conditions. If you have a close relative who has experienced heart disease at a young age, you may be at an increased risk.
- Sex: Men have a higher risk of heart disease than women, but the difference narrows after women reach menopause. When other factors are similar, the risk of heart disease is similar for men and women at 65 years old.
The modifiable risk factors include:
- Smoking: Smoking tobacco contributes to the buildup of plaque in your arteries, reduces oxygen in blood, forces your heart to work harder, and increases the risk of blood clots. Second-hand smoke can also be harmful to the people around you. Quitting tobacco immediately reduces your risk of heart attack and stroke.
- High blood pressure: Hypertension is a medical condition where the blood vessels have persistently raised pressure. This elevated pressure can increase the heart’s workload, causing the heart muscle to thicken and become more stiff. It can also increase your risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, and congestive heart failure. A doctor can be consulted to determine if medications, a diet change, or, in some circumstances, exercise can help to manage high blood pressure. View our Hypertension Handout for more information.
- High cholesterol: Cholesterol comes from two sources: synthesized from your liver and consumed in your diet. It is a waxy substance that can combine with other factors in the blood to form deposits on artery walls. This can narrow the arteries and make them less flexible, leading to atherosclerosis. As the amount of circulating cholesterol in the blood increases, so does your risk of heart disease. Review our Cholesterol Handout for more information.
- Diabetes: There are two types of Diabetes – type 1 (the body does not produce enough insulin) and type 2 (the body cannot effectively use the insulin it has). Insulin is used to break down and control how much sugar is in your blood. High blood sugar levels (especially when uncontrolled) increases the risk of high blood pressure, narrowing of the arteries, coronary artery disease, and stroke. Blood sugar can be controlled through insulin therapy, lifestyle choices, and medication, which can help to reduce the chances of developing heart disease. See our Diabetes Handout for more information.
- Obesity: People with excess body fat, especially around the waist, are more likely to develop heart disease. A sustained weight loss of 3-5% of body weight may significantly reduce the affect of other risk factors.
- Sedentary lifestyle: Regular, moderate to vigorous exercise helps to reduce the risk of heart disease. It can also help to control high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, and in some circumstances, blood pressure.
Other factors that can contribute to heart disease are stress, alcohol intake, and diet.
Blood pressure measures the force of blood against the walls of an individual’s arteries. It requires two measurements: systolic and diastolic. It is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
The systolic (top) number measures the pressure force when the heart contracts and pushes out the blood.
The Diastolic (bottom) number measure when the heart relaxes between beats.
Hypertension is a medical condition where the blood vessels have persistently raised pressure.
Having high blood pressure or hypertension is a major risk factor for heart disease. It is important to
have your blood pressure regularly checked by your physician or independently with an at-home or drugstore blood pressure monitor.
Read our Hypertension Handout for more information.
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is used to help build cells and make vitamins and other hormones in the body.
There are two types of cholesterol:
- one is carried by high density lipoprotein particles (HDL). HDL cholesterol is often referred to as “good” cholesterol because HDL transports excess cholesterol from the bloodstream to the liver to be eliminated.
- the other is carried by low density lipoprotein particles (LDL). LDL is often referred to as “bad” cholesterol because LDL transports cholesterol throughout the body and deposits it onto the arteries. This results in the narrowing or hardening of the arteries which leads to atherosclerosis (the build-up of plaque on artery walls).
Triglycerides are another type of fat found in the body. It is the most common form of fat and helps the body to store excess energy from a meal.
A typical clinical assessment of cholesterol includes measures of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.
Find more information in our Cholesterol Handout.
Read our blog post When Should I Start to Worry About My Cholesterol?
Diabetes is a disease that occurs when blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Normal blood glucose levels range from 4.0 to 7.0 prior to eating. Glucose is made through the consumption of bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, milk, and fruit.
If left untreated or improperly managed, diabetes can result in a variety of complications including:
- Heart disease
- Kidney disease
- Eye disease
- Nerve damage
To help control the amount of glucose in the body, a hormone called insulin is produced. Insulin is created by the pancreas and it helps transport the glucose to blood cells to be used for energy. Sometimes, the body does not make enough insulin or does not use insulin well, which results in glucose staying in the blood and not reaching the cells. This high blood glucose content in the blood will most likely lead to diabetes.
Read our Diabetes Handout for more information.
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
The most commonly mentioned symptoms of a heart attack include squeezing chest pressure or pain, jaw/neck/back/arm pain, nausea or vomiting, and shortness of breath.
According to the American Heart Association, women having a heart attack may experience the symptoms listed above, but can also have less obvious warning signs:
- Upper back pain
- Pain or pressure in the lower chest or upper abdomen
- Lightheadedness or fainting
- Indigestion
- Extreme fatigue
Women may not always experience chest pain during a heart attack.
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.
Heart failure is chronic and progressive condition in which the weakened heart is unable to pump enough blood and oxygen to meet the body’s need.
Symptoms of heart failure can include (but are not limited to):
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling in the legs and feet
- Coughing
- Rapid or irregular heart rate
- Nausea
Activities such as walking, going up stairs, or grocery shopping can become a challenge.
The weakened heart will try to compensate for this condition by pumping faster, stretching to allow more blood to fill between each beat, and strengthening the muscle to allow for stronger contractions. These measures may temporarily mask the symptoms of heart failure, causing some people to be unaware of their condition. However, the heart’s ability to supply the body with nutrients and oxygen will continue to decline until a trip to the doctor is necessary.
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
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.
SportsCardiologyBC is located:
2nd floor, Koerner Pavilion
UBC Hospital
2211 Wesbrook Mall
Vancouver, BC
V6T 2B5
Directions from the main entrance (ACU Lot):
- Enter through the sliding doors. Walk past the main switchboard and go to your left when you come to the wall.
- Take your second right, where the elevators will be on your right.
Directions from the side entrance (Health Sciences Parkade):
- Elevators will be to the left when you walk through the double doors.
Take an elevator to the second floor and exit the elevator to the left following the signs to Cardiology. Please go through the open grey doors to the waiting area and check in at the reception desk to your left.
An exercise stress test measures the heart’s ability to respond to external stress in a controlled environment. Exercise allows doctors to detect abnormal heart rhythms and helps to diagnose the presence or absence of coronary artery disease. It also allows for doctors to determine treatment options and management of previously diagnosed cardiac disease.
You will be encouraged to exercise until you are too tired to continue, you experience symptoms, or if something is seen by the Cardiology Technologist that would cause them to terminate the test. Your heart rate and rhythm will be continuously recorded and blood pressure will be taken at the end of each stage.
At SportsCardiologyBC, we offer two different treadmills (one large and one smaller machine) and a bike to better accommodate our patients and study participants. Our bike does have optional clip on pedals if you would like to bring your cycling shoes. For more details on available testing equipment, view our Clinical Assessment page.
Please let us know which machine you would prefer to be tested on and if you have any restrictions or injuries prior to the test.
Read through our SCBC Exercise Stress Test Information pamphlet for more information about what to expect on the day of your appointment.
Please either bring or wear running or walking shoes and comfortable clothes to exercise in.
We do ask that you refrain from using lotion or perfumes on the chest area to ensure a good connection between the electrodes and your skin.
Unless you have been given specific instructions from your doctor, please continue taking all medications and eat and drink as you normally would before exercising. Please also bring your current medication list if you have one.
We have cups for water and towels in the Stress Test Innovation Lab for your comfort.
This is a common question for athletes wanting to start exercising again after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
Review this infographic to learn about the graduated return to play protocol.
Read through this article for athlete guidance on returning to play.
Resources:
1. Elliott, N., et al. (2020). “Infographic. Graduated return to play guidance following COVID-19 infection.” Br J Sports Med 54(19): 1174-1175.
2. Lowry, F. (2020). New Reports Guide Return to Play in Athletes with COVID-19. Medscape. Retrieved from https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/940882#vp_3
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