Resumen

PEIDRO, Roberto M.. Athlete’s heart. Rev.Urug.Cardiol. [online]. 2026, vol.41, n.1, e402.  Epub 01-Dic-2026. ISSN 0797-0048.  https://doi.org/10.29277/cardio.41.1.5.

The term athlete’s heart defines the autonomic nervous system cardiac adaptations, as well as physiological, endocrine, and structural adaptations generated by regular physical training. While this state can be considered a form of adaptation without specific pathological significance, extreme modifications can be potentially arrhythmogenic. The importance of a thorough understanding of these modifications lies in being able to distinguish them from the presence of heart disease in an athlete, which has significant prognostic and therapeutic implications. This manuscript reviews the pathophysiological basis of these adaptations, the clinical and paraclinical changes observed, and the primary and secondary prevention strategies for sudden death in athletes, with particular emphasis on the challenges cardiologists face when prescribing exercise for certain underlying heart conditions.

Palabras clave : ATHLETE’S HEART; ADAPTATIONS; EXERCISE; PREVENTION.

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