Managing the heart health of tactical athletes
Firefighters, police officers, Navy SEALs should be able to perform most extreme parts of the role, says UCI Health cardiologist
IN THE NEWS: As we age, our cardiovascular fitness often changes. That fact even holds true for those in professions that demand a high level of physical fitness, such as firefighters, Navy SEALs and police officers.
UCI Health cardiologist Dr. Brian Becerra spoke to STAT about how he evaluates such tactical athletes depending on the demands of their jobs.
“We want to make sure that they can do the most extreme part of their job. Just because they don’t have the cardiovascular capacity for one type of job in that profession doesn’t mean that they can’t do something else.”
Becerra, the director of sports cardiology at UCI Health, is a board-certified cardiologist who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of heart disease. His clinical interests include non-invasive cardiovascular imaging and cardiac disease prevention. He also focuses on sports- and exercise-related cardiovascular care. He is also an assistant professor in the UC Irvine School of Medicine.
As a noninvasive cardiologist with expertise in sports cardiology, he is invested in the unique care of athletic heart disease. He helps to treat all patients, from recreational to elite athletes who are in need of care.
Make an appointment at UCI Health Cardiology Services by calling 714-880-7812.
About UCI Health
UCI Health is one of California’s largest academic health systems and the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Established on July 1, 1976, UCI Health has grown into a 1,513-bed health system that includes UCI Health — Orange, UCI Health — Irvine, its newest facility, UCI Health — Irvine Rehabilitation Hospital, four Community Network hospitals and a growing network of ambulatory care centers across Orange and Los Angeles counties. As Orange County’s only academic health systems, UCI Health is home to the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center based in the county, the region’s only American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, American College of Emergency Physicians Gold Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department and a nationally recognized regional burn center verified by the American Burn Association. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people across Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County through excellence in patient care, research and medical education. Follow UCI Health on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.