Sports and exercise cardiology, sports medicine

Sport and exercise cardiology deals with the subject area of sport/sports medicine and cardiology and the associated so-called "sport paradox": this term describes the tension between undisputed and versatile positive effects on health but also the potentially harmful consequences of sport.

Mehrere Männer liefern sich einen Wettlauf auf einer Rennbahn

The health-promoting, primary and secondary preventive benefits of regular exercise are undisputed today and are very well documented scientifically: Not only is overall survival extended, but the quality of life of the extended life is also improved, so to speak: independence and at the same time fall prevention in old age are promoted, just as many malignant tumor diseases and mental illnesses are prevented. Especially in the broad spectrum of cardiovascular diseases, the positive effects of regular exercise are impressive and manifold, as the classic cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity/increased abdominal girth, diabetes mellitus, cholesterol metabolism disorders, arterial hypertension and, of course, sedentariness per se are also positively influenced.

The positive effects are offset by the potentially harmful consequences of inappropriate exercise. Individual and targeted training advice and support is essential, especially for patients with known heart disease. But even healthy athletes can damage their cardiovascular system if they train too intensively and in an untargeted manner. The worst consequence can even be exercise-induced cardiac arrest or even cardiac death. There are clearly defined risk factors for these events, which are generally rare but always catastrophic. More than 90% of these deaths can be avoided with adequate preventive examinations and measures.

Sports/exercise cardiology and sports medicine is an institution officially recognized by “Swiss Olympic” and the world football association “FIFA” and offers all services in this field. These include, for example:

  • Individualized sports cardiology preventive and screening examinations
  • Sports and training advice in primary prevention
  • Specific sports and training advice for people with known heart disease
  • Performance test and clarification of unclear reduction in performance
  • Outpatient cardiac rehabilitation
  • Sports medical examinations

For patients

You can either register yourself or be referred by your primary care physician, specialist.

Tel. +41 44 255 15 15
Self-registration

For referrering physicians

University Hospital Zurich
University Heart Center Zurich
Raemistrasse 100
8091 Zurich

Tel. +41 44 255 15 15
Referr online

Responsible Department