Sports Cardiology

Active people at all levels — from those beginning an exercise programme to seasoned athletes — can experience a wide range of heart conditions. Our team is here to provide expert diagnosis and care, whether your condition is routine or more complex. We treat:

• Arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation (AFib)
• Athlete’s heart
• Cardiomyopathies, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and dilated cardiomyopathy
• Coronary artery disease
• COVID-19 heart damage
• Heart valve disease, including bicuspid aortic valve disease
• Long Q-T syndrome
• Brugada syndrome
• Tachycardia, including atrial, ventricular and supraventricular tachycardia
• Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

They say that a body in motion wants to stay in motion. Our consultants understand and want to help you continue forward and reach your goals. They work with you to build a safe, personalised plan that matches your needs. And if you have a heart condition or are at risk for one, we’re here to help you continue your training with confidence.

Cardiac screenings

Cardiac screenings help us spot underlying cardiovascular conditions that can put you at risk for complications, including sudden cardiac death. Your consultant will spend time talking with you to gain a fuller understanding of how your condition is impacting your life as an athlete. They’ll also:

• Take a detailed personal and family medical history
• Evaluate any exercise-related symptoms, like fainting, palpitations or chest pain
• Give you a physical exam, including evaluating your pulse, heartbeat and blood pressure

We may also do some tests as part of your cardiac screening. You may have:

• Echocardiogram (echo)
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Exercise stress test
• Cardiopulmonary exercise stress test (CPET)

Advanced testing

If you have a known heart condition or a screening result that’s outside of what we would typically like to see, you may need further tests. We also distinguish between the natural changes that happen in an athlete’s heart versus changes that may be associated with disease.

For example, athletic heart syndrome (also called athlete’s heart) is an enlargement of the heart muscle that happens with regular, rigorous physical activity. It’s natural, usually harmless and doesn’t need treatment.

But abnormal heart enlargement, called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, is a dangerous cardiac condition that requires lifelong management.

Our experienced team and advanced imaging accurately diagnose sports-related heart conditions.

Surgery and medical treatments

If you’re an athlete, your cardiologist will work closely with your general practitioner (GP), coach, athletic trainer, physiotherapist and other members of your care team to build a personalised return-to-play plan. We make sport-specific recommendations and provide ongoing monitoring and follow-up care to help you manage your condition. Our priority is to keep you safe and healthy for the long term.

We can treat many heart conditions with medication or minimally invasive surgeries that help you recover faster and with fewer risks. After surgery, we’ll connect you with the rehabilitation services you need to gradually start exercising again.

Our expert team of electrophysiologists, interventional radiologists and surgeons offers:

• Ablation for AFib and other arrhythmias
• Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) procedures and management
• Remote monitoring devices for heart rhythm disorders
• Surgery for coronary artery disease, heart muscle disease and valve disease

Supporting Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY)

Our top sports cardiologists are also longstanding supporters of Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), a charity that raises awareness of sudden cardiac death in young people. Over the years, they’ve led heart screening at Cleveland Clinic London for approximately 25,000 youth across the U.K.

Our lead cardiologist also promotes CRY’s related support network for young people with heart disease. He contributes to its research, engages with politicians and policymakers to advocate for cardiac screening policies in the U.K., and leads an educational initiative about these conditions.

How Much Does Sports Cardiology Cost at Cleveland Clinic London?

Depending on your needs, we offer flexible ways to pay for your care. Whether you choose our convenient self-pay option or prefer to use private medical insurance, our team is here to answer whatever questions you might have.

What’s Next?

Having a heart condition — or being at risk for one — doesn’t mean giving up your sport or scaling back your ambitions. It means taking a more informed, supported approach to training. At Cleveland Clinic London, our team of specialists will assess your heart health and create a personalised care plan to help you stay active safely and with confidence.