Best Practice Case Studies-Athletes and Hypertension

Pdf Summary

The review article discusses hypertension prevalence, diagnosis, and management in athletes, highlighting key findings about the condition's presence across various sports. Despite physical activity generally lowering blood pressure, hypertension is still common among athletes and is most prevalent in certain sports such as powerlifting, weightlifting, and American-style football. This is possibly due to higher body mass indices and drug or supplement use in these athletes. <br /><br />Hypertension classifications, including sustained systemic hypertension, white coat hypertension, masked hypertension, hypertensive response to exercise, and isolated systolic hypertension, emphasize different patterns and diagnostic challenges in athletes. Notably, white coat hypertension, characterized by elevated office blood pressure with normal ambulatory readings, is significant in athletes and can correlate with cardiovascular risks. <br /><br />The document outlines a preparticipation evaluation procedure, recommending diagnostic pathways such as ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and echocardiography, especially for athletes at risk of cardiovascular complications. Lifestyle changes form the primary management strategy. If lifestyle modifications fail to reduce blood pressure, pharmacologic treatments are considered, adhering to general hypertension guidelines. Specific drug recommendations take into account potential performance effects and doping regulations, advising agents like ACE inhibitors, ARB, and calcium channel blockers predominantly, while avoiding diuretics and beta-blockers unless necessary.<br /><br />The article emphasizes the importance of identifying hypertension-mediated organ damage and associated clinical conditions when assessing an athlete's eligibility for sports participation. Hypertension impacts long-term outcomes, affecting mortality rates in athletes differently across sports, with endurance athletes often experiencing increased longevity.<br /><br />Additionally, the article reflects on the implications of drug and supplement use on blood pressure, noting how substances like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anabolic steroids, and erythropoietin could elevate risks.<br /><br />Overall, the report provides a comprehensive view of how hypertension presents within the athlete population, offering insights for effective diagnosis, tailored management, and safe sports participation.

Meta Tag

Edition 3rd Edition

Related Case 3rd Edition, CASE 34

Topic Metabolic/Medical Conditions

Keywords

3rd Edition, CASE 34

3rd Edition

Metabolic/Medical Conditions

hypertension

athletes

sports

diagnosis

management

blood pressure

preparticipation evaluation

drug use

cardiovascular risks

lifestyle changes