Medical Conditions Flashcards
What is the most common cause of sudden death in athletes?
- Cardiac (56%)
- Followed by blunt trauma (22%)
What are the two most common cardiac problems causing sudden death in athletes?
- Hypertrophic Cardiac Myopathy (#1 cause of cardiac death in athletes)
- Coronary Artery Abnormalities
What is Hypertrophic Cardiac Myopathy? Common Symptoms?
- Walls of the ventricles become thickened, reducing the pumping capacity of the heart
- Often asymmetrical, affecting only one side of the heart
- Typically genetic in nature
- Symptoms include dizziness, chest pain, fainting, shortness of breath and fatigue
How do you screen for Hypertrophic Cardiac Myopathy? Manage it once found?
- Hard to screen, 55-80 percent are asymptomatic until cardiac event
- Family History due to genetic component
- Manage with beta-blockers, antiarrhythmics and blood thinners
- Athletes usually disqualified from sports regardless of management techniques
What are the most common coronary artery abnormalities?
- Anomalous origin of the left main coronary artery and the right coronary artery
What are common symptoms of coronary artery abnormalities?
- Usually asymptomatic
- May present with syncope, angina and cardiac arrhythmia
What are the American Heart Associations recommendations for pre-participation cardiovascular screening of competitive athletes.
• Medical history
1. Exceptional chest pain/discomfort
2. Unexplained syncope/near-syncope
3. Excessive exertional and unexplained dyspnea with exercise
4. Prior recognition of heart murmur
5. Elevated systemic blood pressure
• Family history
6. Premature death (sudden and unexpected, or otherwise)
before age 50 years due to heart disease in one relative.
7. Disability from heart disease in a close relative < 50 years of age
8. Specific knowledge of certain cardiac conditions in family members: hypertropic or dilated cardiomyopathy, long-QT syndrome or other ion channelopathies, Marfan syndrome, or clinically important arrhythmias
• Physical examination
9. Heart murmur
10. Femoral pulses to exclude aortic contraction
11. Physical stigmata of Marfan syndrome
12. Brachial artery blood pressure (sitting position)
* A finding of one or more warrants referral to cardiovascular
specialist.
What is Asthma? Symptoms?
- Chronic inflammatory disease of the airways during all activities of daily living
- Wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and coughing due to airway obstruction and often reverse spontaneously or with treatment.
What are some environmental triggers of Asthma?
- Cold temperature
- Allergens
- Pollution
- Tobacco smoke
What are the most common tests to measure Pulmonary Function?
- Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)
- Forced vital capacity (FVC)
- Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR)
What are Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second, Forced Vital Capacity, and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate?
- FEV1: The amount of air forcefully exhaled in one second
- FVC: The maximal amount of expired air beyond the two second mark (usually five to six seconds)
- PEFR: Maximal flow rate in L/sec or L/min out of the airways
How is dynamic function of the Lungs assessed?
- FEV1/ FVC
How is dynamic function of lungs affected by Exercise Induced Asthma and Exercise Induced Bronchospam?
- EIA and EIB are obstructive airway disorders whereby airways constrict the outflow of air
- In these conditions, the FEV1 decreases while the FVC remains the same, causing the FEV1/FVC to decrease
- This indicates an obstructive pulmonary disease
What levels of predicted FEV1/ FVC are considered normal?
- 80 Percent
How do Obstructive pulmonary diseases differ from Restrictive pulmonary diseases when it comes to FEV1/ FVC?
- Obstructive: FEV1 decrases while FVC stays same
- Restrictive: FEV1 and FVC decrease causing FEV1/ FVC to stay the same in restrictive
What are the Peak Flow Zones for Asthma?
- Green
- Yellow
- Red
Describe the “Green” Peak Flow Zone for Asthma Management
- Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) values are between 80 percent and 100 percent of personal best
- No asthma management changes are necessary at this time
Describe the “Yellow” Peak Flow Zone for Asthma Management
- PEFR values are between 50 percent and 80 percent of personal best
- Caution is warranted; use of medication is required
Describe the “Red” Peak Flow Zone for Asthma Management
- PEFR values are less than 50 percent of personal best
- Danger: emergency action is needed, including medication or hospital visit
How do you determine if management is needed in an asthma patient
- Take Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) Using a peak flow meter and compare with baseline measures
What are common “controller” medications used to treat Asthma?
- Inhaled corticosteroids
- Systemic corticosteroids
- Cromones (Inhaled NSAIDS)
- Long-acting B2-agonists
- Therophylline
- Leukotriene modifiers
What “controller” medication is banned by anti doping agencies?
- Long Acting B2 Agonists
What do Leukotriene Modifiers do and when are they used for Asthma?
- Block leukotriene receptors to control allergens, aspirin and Exercise Induced Bronchospasm (EIB)
- Used as a second line of defense and in conjunction with other agents