While the risk of sudden death has for a long time been emphasised, more balanced perspectives on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are emerging.Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is characterised by a thickening of the heart muscle in the ventricular wall, usually the left ventricle. The overall ventricle size often remains normal but the inside of the ventricle is generally smaller and holds less blood than a normal ventricle, impeding normal cardiac function. The American Heart Association c...

Moderate amounts of exercise are protective, but both too little exercise and too much exercise are associated with increased risk of atrial fibrillation.Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of sustained cardiac arrhythmia, characterised by an irregular and often rapid heart rate. While AF is generally associated with older adults and those with underlying cardiovascular conditions, evidence shows that athletes, particularly men engaged in long-term endurance sports, are also at i...

Recent advancements in medical understanding mean that athletes with HCM can safely compete.Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic condition characterised by the thickening of the heart muscle, which can impede normal heart function and increase the risk of arrhythmias and sudden cardiac arrest. Historically, the diagnosis of HCM has often meant an immediate halt to an athlete’s career, with the presumption that intense physical activity exacerbates the risks associated wi...

So, you've had an episode of atrial fibrillation that is now resolved. What next?The findings of a UK-based study published in the British Medical Journal in 2018, which involved nearly 50,000 patients in general practices, found that patients with resolved atrial fibrillation remain at higher risk of stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) than patients without atrial fibrillation. The researchers concluded that:"Guidelines should be updated to advocate continued use of antic...

Exercise may stimulate the growth of more new heart muscle cells, even after having a heart attack.Exercise prescription is gaining significant importance in clinical practice, as more and more research provides compelling evidence to support the role of exercise in disease prevention and chronic illness management. In short, we are running out of excuses not to exercise.Researchers from the Harvard Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medi...