This textbook provides a comprehensive, yet practically orientated overview of classic and novel sports cardiology topics, based on current evidence, guidelines, recommendations and expert experience. Numerous publications have provided guidance to these issues, but it has become increasingly difficult for both students and doctors to obtain a thorough, but practicable overview for optimal clinical care of athletes and patients. This book is intended as an educational work, filling the large gaps that are still present in the current educational guidelines for medical students and cardiology trainees.

Preface.- Introduction: Sports and exercise cardiology - current status and future perspectives.-PART I: Sports cardiology in young competitive athletes.-Definition of athletes and classification of sports.-The cardiologist as part of the athlete medical team.-Athlete´s heart: basic physiology and adaptation to exercise.-Impact of sporting disciplines and body size on the athlete's heart.-Sudden cardiac death in athletes: incidence, causes and prevention strategies.-Medical evaluation of athletes: Medical history and physical examination.-Medical evaluation of athletes: Electrocardiogram.-Medical evaluation of athletes: Echocardiography.-Medical evaluation of athletes: Further imaging modalities: Stress echo, CT and MRI.-Medical evaluation of athletes: Exercise testing.-Medical evaluation of athletes: Genetic testing.-Specific cardiovascular diseases and competitive sports participation:  Arterial hypertension.- Specific cardiovascular diseases and competitivesports participation: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.-Specific cardiovascular diseases and competitive sports participation: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.-Specific cardiovascular diseases and competitive sports participation: Left ventricular hypertrabeculation.-Specific cardiovascular diseases and competitive sports participation: Valvular heart disease .-Specific cardiovascular diseases and competitive sports participation: Arrhythmias.-Specific cardiovascular diseases and competitive sports participation: Pacemakers and ICD.-Specific cardiovascular diseases and competitive sports participation: Myocarditis and myocardial fibrosis.-Specific cardiovascular diseases and competitive sports participation: Channelopathies .-Specific cardiovascular diseases and competitive sports participation: Coronary anomalies and myocardial bridging at risk of sudden death.-Specific cardiovascular diseases and competitive sports participation: Congenital heart disease.-Specific populations: Pediatric and adolescent athletes.-Specific populations: Female athletes.-Specific populations: Athletes of Afro-Caribbean origin.-Commotio cordis .-Cardiovascular side effects of commonly prescribed medications and performance enhancing drugs and special considerations for the athlete.-Cardiac safety in sports arenas.-PART II: Sports cardiology in recreational / master athletes.-Medical supervision of mass sporting events.-Incidence and causes of sudden cardiac death in recreational athletes.-Potential cardiac damage induced by strenuous exercise.-The role of imaging .-Endurance exercise and atrial fibrillation.-Sports in extreme environments: cardiovascular issues.-PART III: Exercise in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.-Epidemiology: Physical activity, exercise and mortality.-Impact of exercise on cardiovascular risk factors: Arterial hypertension.-Impact of exercise on cardiovascular risk factors: Dyslipidaemia.-Impact of exercise on cardiovascular risk factors: Diabetes mellitus.-Impact of exercise on cardiovascular risk factors: Obesity.-Exercise and vascular function.-The optimal dose of exercise.-PART IV: Exercise in secondary prevention and cardiac rehabilitation.-Modalities of exercise training in cardiac rehabilitation.-Cardiopulmonary exercise testing and prescription of exercise.-Exercise in specific diseases: Coronary artery disease.-Exercise in specific diseases: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.-Exercise in specific diseases: Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.-Exercise in specific diseases: Heart transplantation and left ventricular assist device.-Exercise in specific diseases: Valvular heart disease.-Exercise in specific diseases: Atrial fibrillation.-Exercise in Specific Diseases: Pacemakers and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators.-Exercise in specific diseases: Abdominal aortic aneurysm