WHY DO ATHLETES GET HEART ATTACK?
Physical activity is one of the most amazing assets for wellbeing and has been related with healthy change in most cardiovascular risk factors, including cholesterol, weight, insulin sensitivity, and blood pressure.
While there is debate about the likely association between intense physical activity and increase in risk of a few cardiovascular conditions (for e.g., atrial fibrillation, ventricular fibrosis), when in balance, physical activity is obviously improves health and wellbeing for the larger part of people.
In any case, for few people who harbor cardiovascular conditions, exercise can some of the time be related with the gamble of sudden demise.
You might have heard about such cases.
- Fabrice Muamba is a 23-years old professional soccer player of Britain nationality, who collapsed during a game.
- Another soccer player of 29-year old, Danish collapsed on ground during European championship match in 2020.
There are many such cases seen in young individuals which send a shockwave through people’s spine. Such fit and young athletes having a heart attack all of a sudden is a sign of danger.
Despite the fact that such events are uncommon, youthful and fit athletes are not immune to heart diseases and there are a couple of causes behind that, specialists say.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF ATHLETES GETTING HEART ATTACK ALL OF A SUDDEN?
Generally speaking, the athletes have a hidden or underlying heart condition that might have been acquired or remained undiagnosed.
- Up to the age of 35 years, genetically inherited cardiac conditions predominate.
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (the major cause in young athletes)
- Atherosclerotic Coronary Artery Disease
Above the age of 35 years, the major reason for sudden heart attack is atheroseclorotic coronary artery disease.
Some common conditions include:
- High cholesterol
- High Blood Pressure
- High triglycerides
- Chronic inflammation
- Smoking
Other cardiovascular conditions involve the following:
- Enlarged heart or dilated cardiac myopathy
- Heart valve disorders
- Aortopathy
- Myocarditis
- Brugada syndrome
Exercise or physical activity probably goes about as a trigger, And the force of the activity might make that heart especially powerless against an arrhythmia that can cause a deadly result.
In almost every case, an electrical instability ignites the heart failure. Sports where you have more prominent level of effort or exertion, like b-ball and soccer, also football and furthermore long distance races, appear to have a greater number of these occasions related.
SIGNS OF A SUDDEN HEART ATTACK
- Chest Pain
- Heart palpitations
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness
- Sudden collapse
- Loss of consciousness
- Lack of pulse
HOW CAN THE RISKS OF HEART ATTACKS BE LOWERED IN YOUNG ATHLETES?
Now, this is a considerable debate for every nation.
An athlete’s body should be screened of all the medical conditions and also a physical examination should be done in detail.
Eating a balanced diet and taking care of the body is still and irreplaceable prevention method.
Genetic testing for inherited cardiovascular conditions is still under research.