title: The athlete's heart.
abstract: We have provided an overview of the athlete's heart, focusing on the young athlete. Primary caretakers of athletes should know the major causes of exercise-related cardiac complications and sudden cardiac death and look for these conditions during preparticipation evaluations. We strongly suggest that coaches and other athletic personnel be required to learn basic life support measures such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and to update their skills on an annual basis. Such efforts will help prevent additional exercise-related cardiac deaths.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000193:education; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010808:Physical Examination; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D016276:Ventricular Function / Q000502:physiology