Endurance Athletes and Heart Health: Even the Fittest Among Us Need to Take Cardiovascular Health Seriously

Imperfect Progress with Anne Guzman

Welcome to episode 31 of the Imperfect Progress Podcast!

On today's podcast I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Meagan Wasfy, a sports cardiologist and echocardiographer at the Mass General Hospital Brigham, Massachusetts. Dr. Wasfy completed her undergraduate degree is from Harvard College and medical degree from Harvard Medical School. She serves as team cardiologist for Harvard Athletics and co-medical director for the Boston Athletic Association. Her research focus is on optimizing the clinical utilization of cardiac imaging and exercise testing in athlete patients, with an emphasis on sex-based differences. She’s also an avid runner herself and has extensive experience working with endurance athletes, as well as the NFL and also the general population in relation to heart health.

Dr. Wasfy and I discussed heart health, aging, and endurance athletes. When you listen, you'll learn about:

• How menopause can affect our risk of heart disease.
• Why endurance athletes are not invincible to aging and heart health issues.
• Preventing sudden cardiac arrest in young and masters athletes - what can be done?
• Atrial fibrillation and endurance athletes. Which sex is at higher risk?
• The optimal level of exercise for improved health.
• Is extreme exercise good for heart health?
• CPR - why we should all learn it.
• How wearable technology can be an asset to cardiologists.
• Which age group wearable technology is not useful for and why.

Tune in to learn more about these important topics! After this episode, I am taking my movement seriously, and every bit counts towards my heart health.

To learn more about Dr. Wasfy follow her here on Twitter today!

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