For most people, the cardiac stress test is the epitome of modern cardiology.  For some, the thought of undergoing one may also cause cold sweats…Perhaps a little introduction can help clarify what it is and what it does, and will minimize any misplaced fear about this helpful diagnostic tool.Read more

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The adverse effect of lack of exercise on the blood pressure is well known.  A sedentary life frequently leads to chronic hypertension, and in turn, high blood pressure can lead to heart, brain, and kidney damage.

We will address the topic of chronic hypertension in a separate article.  Today, we will discuss a phenomenon called “hypertensive response to exercise” which can occur in seemingly healthy subjects who have no history of hypertension but whose blood pressure during exercise seems to increase “too much.”Read more

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The electrocardiogram (ECG) is by far the most commonly performed cardiac test.  You may have seen a picture of one in a book or a magazine, or you may have been drawn into the drama of this mysterious waveform, flashing periodically on a monitor during a tense moment of  “E.R.” or “House.”

Have you wondered what the ECG is truly about?

The following Q&A will demystify the test as we begin to reflect on how the heartbeat comes about.Read more

We are delighted to have been featured in a San Francisco Chronicle article which highlights the rising interest in cardiac screening among athletes.  I was correctly identified as being among the growing number of cardiologists who believe that current screening tools are excellent and underutilized.

The article covered the subject of screening in general, so I would like to offer some additional information for clarification. Read more

There has been a great deal of buzz around Google’s announcement of their plan to develop a “pill” that will circulate in the blood stream to detect early forms of cancer and give warning signs about impending cardiac complications.  Thissounds like science fiction, but who knows?  We certainly wish them the best success in this endeavor.

But do we really need to wait for these futuristic projects to be able to detect heart disease early?  I wrote an Op Ed for the San Jose Mercury News which you may find informative.

The American Heart Association recently published an excellent document that very comprehensively examines the  12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) as a tool to screen populations of youth and young adults (age range 12-25).

This will be a very useful reference document for years to come.  It covers medical, technical, logistical, socioeconomic, legal, and ethical aspects of screening in great detail, and lists a vast number of references.

The final recommendation against endorsing the use of the ECG for “mandatory and universal mass screening” is unsurprising, and was anticipated by most attendees of the recent Sports and Exercise Cardiology Summit.Read more