Sports Cardiac Screening Package

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, community interest in sports and physical activity has grown significantly, with more people engaging in regular exercise to improve their health. However, this rise has also been accompanied by an increase in serious cardiovascular incidents such as sudden cardiac arrest or stroke during exercise and athletic events.

Many sports enthusiasts are not fully aware that high-intensity physical activity can pose potential health risks—particularly those related to the heart.

In reality, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of sudden death during sports, even among young, healthy individuals with no prior symptoms. Failing to detect underlying heart conditions early can lead to life-threatening events when the body is under physical stress during exercise or competition.

To address this, the Cardiovascular Screening Package for Athletes is designed to identify hidden cardiovascular risks early, helping individuals understand their health status before engaging in sports activities, and ultimately preventing dangerous complications.

Why is sports screening important?

Timely detection is key to prevention.

Some cardiovascular risk factors such as arrhythmias, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, or uncontrolled diabetes often progress silently. While these conditions may not cause noticeable symptoms in daily life, they can gradually damage the cardiovascular system. During high-intensity exercise, these risks may suddenly manifest as serious events such as plaque rupture or life-threatening arrhythmias.

Statistics show that cardiovascular incidents in athletes most commonly occur:

• When resuming physical activity after a long period of inactivity, or
• When increasing exercise intensity — such as transitioning from light workouts to intense training or from casual play to competitive sports.
• Therefore, cardiovascular screening should be performed early, before entering a period of serious training.

Why stress testing is essential for athletes

Most general health check-ups are conducted at rest, when the cardiovascular system is functioning under minimal demand. However, many dangerous heart conditions only become apparent under physical stress — such as during intense workouts or competition.

If screening is done only at rest, abnormalities may go undetected, giving athletes a false sense of security, even though hidden risks remain.

To accurately assess health in active individuals, especially athletes, screening should be performed under controlled exercise conditions. When the heart is placed under stress, issues like arrhythmias or myocardial ischemia are more likely to be revealed.

Who should undergo sports cardiovascular screening? 

• Professional and recreational athletes, especially in high-intensity sports such as marathon running, gym training, cycling, swimming, and tennis.

• Individuals returning to exercise after a prolonged period of inactivity.

• Middle-aged individuals (over 35) beginning sports for health or community competitions.

• Those with a history of cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia.

• Individuals with a family history of sudden death—particularly during physical activity—or early heart attack/stroke (men <55 years, women <65 years).

• Individuals experiencing suspicious symptoms during exercise, such as palpitations, chest tightness, shortness of breath, or fatigue.

Why choose CarePlus for sports screening?

• Experienced cardiology specialists with deep expertise in sports cardiology ensure accurate diagnosis and appropriate guidance.

• Screening protocols are based on the latest international recommendations from leading cardiology societies (American, European, and Japanese), ensuring relevance and effectiveness.

• Modern, specialized equipment tailored for athletes:

  • Stress ECG with cycle ergometer to assess cardiac response during real-time exercise.

  • 24-hour Holter ECG – compact and convenient for continuous heart rhythm monitoring.

  • 7-day blood pressure monitoring app for detecting abnormal fluctuations not seen in routine exams.

• Efficient, patient-friendly procedures with detailed and supportive consultations, providing peace of mind and comfort throughout the screening process.

Components of the Sports Health Screening Package. 

This package is comprehensively designed with the following components: