By identifying conditions that increase cardiovascular disease risk, and enrolling people in community sport-programs to reduce risk, we could stop it before it starts.
Surviving a traumatic brain injury (TBI) elevates the risk of future cardiovascular disease. The mechanism is not well known yet, but researchers point to cardiovascular, metabolic, and endocrine dysfunction, neuro-inflammation and sleep disturbance triggered by TBI as possible contributors.
Breast cancer survivors also have an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, with a 35% increased risk of fatality in survivors over the age of 50. The cardio-toxic effect of chemotherapy medications is a recognised contributor, but other overlapping factors such as overweight, Type 2 Diabetes and smoking are risk factors for both diseases.
The good news
Surprisingly reducing risk for both survivor cohorts may look remarkably similar. Community sport-based programs that help survivors remain physically active, and provide education and access to services that support good nutrition, healthy weight management and smoking cessation could help survivors sustain longer, healthier lives.
“It frustrates me that great programs exist, but we aren’t seeing enough of them sustained to ensure everyone can be referred to them,” said SportHealthTech CEO, Bastien Wallace.
“My hope is that standard treatment will soon include referrals to community programs for survivors, wherever they are,” said Bastien.
SportHealthTech is developing Sport Prescriptions to enable the expansion of community-based programs to enhance healthcare.
