Noncardiac Diseases Mimicking and/or Affecting the Cardiovascular System

Abstract

It is well known that diseases of the cardiovascular System constitute the most frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in industrialized countries as well as the most frequent cause of hospitalization and invalidity. In the case of a young athlete who presents cardiovascular symptomatology, the first suspicion is a cardiac cause; this has notable psychological implication in the subject and it makes a precise and timely clinical Solution important. In fact, we often find young subjects in good general health and physically very active in whom a contingent diagnosis of cardiopathy would gravely limit or interrupt sporting activity. Therefore, a careful and correct general clinical evaluation, a specific clinical and instrumental heart evaluation and a good knowledge of the intensity and the degree of physical effort that the athlete is undergoing when the Symptom develop, is of utmost importance. The principal and most frequent noncardiac clinical Situation, but in which the cardiovascular System seems involved, are described below.