Sudden cardiac death in young athletes - Causes, athlete's heart, and screening guidelines

The sudden, unexpected death of a young athlete from a cardiac cause, while rare, often captures the public's attention and raises questions about the need for more comprehensive screening before athletes are allowed to participate in vigorous sports. In this article, Dr Drezner addresses the questions surrounding such tragedies and discusses the causes of sudden cardiac death, the physiologic adaptations seen in so-called athlete's heart, and guidelines for cardiovascular screening.