Course 3 - Primary Care and Spinal Cord Injury: What Should Family Doctors Know About Cardiovascular Health?

People with spinal cord injury (SCI) are more at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) than the general population.

This is largely because of:

• Fewer opportunities for physical activity.
• Loss of trunk control and muscle mass can result in greater central adiposity (i.e., more fat around your middle).
• Mismatching caloric intake with caloric expenditure.
• Impaired sensation may make it harder to detect early, more minor cardiac events.

After completing the course, you will be able to:  

• Recognize the key risk factors for developing CVD in patients with SCI
• Utilize appropriate screening methods, intervals, and norms for assessing CVD risk in patients with SCI
• Determine when patients with SCI require a referral to a cardiologist, physiatrist, nutritionist, or exercise specialist