EXERCISE AND THE WEEKEND ATHLETE CAUTION FOR THE HEART AGAINST SUDDEN BURSTS OF STRENUOUS EXERCISE HEART ECHOCARDIOGRAM TREADMILL GOOD IDEA

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Researchers have pointed out that people who have not been exercising regularly, weekend athletes, should avoid sudden bursts of strenuous exercise because of the possible impact on the heart. They found infrequent strenuous exercise poses a possible serious risk of a heart attack.It keeps the heart racing for a long period extending the time when problems could occur. Exercise is good but needs to be part of a coordinated gradual program for people who do not exercise regularly. Examination and testing such as an echocardiogram and treadmill test by a doctor is probably a good idea.



The researchers in 2003, said it was not only those with known heart problems who should take care. Although thousands upon thousands of people run in sporting events, races, marathons and play football, basketball and soccer, sudden cardiac problems are thankfully a relatively infrequent phenomenon. Nevertheless sudden collapse of athletes ( and weekend athletes) is a persistent phenomenon and it's not hard to do a search of Google and come up with stories about sports related medical problems.

Sudden Exercise Poses Heart Risk








Exercise is generally safe. Still as the old saying goes an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Fainting, chest pain, difficulty breathing and dizziness with exercise can all be warning signs of heart problems and warrant attention. Adults as well as parents and teenagers should take them seriously and see a doctor.It's a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of the issues that marathoners and just plain exercisers can face. Issues like undetected underlying cardiac problems, such as cardiac hypertrophy or heart beat irregularities. Dehydration and it's reverse over hydration leading to hyponatremia, heat stress and heat stroke.




In 2002 a Honolulu marathoner collapsed after crossing the finish line. He was not sedentary, having completed marathons before, nevertheless it is instructive to read what doctors said. It is fundamentally difficult to find that one person among tens of thousands who will experience a problem with strenuos exercise. A doctor speaking about this was quoted "that running is a fundamentally healthy activity, the most popular form of aerobic exercise in the world, and will increase a sedentary person's chances of avoiding heart and other life-threatening problems "by an astronomical percentage."



"But any sedentary person planning to train for a marathon or any other tough physical challenge should get a complete physical examination first, including a treadmill stress test with an echocardiogram to record the heart's performance" Another medical doctor said he would recommend that anyone older than 40 undertaking marathon training get a stress test on a treadmill with an echocardiogram.

33 Year Old Collapses After Honolulu Marathon.

Common Heart Tests:




Electrocardiogram: Often abbreviated, as EKG
or ECG, the electrocardiogram is a test that shows
the electrical activity of the heartbeat.



Stress electrocardiography:Also called a
"stress ECG," this test is an electrocardiogram
done before and during or immediately after some
form of physical stress, usually exercise on a
treadmill.



Echocardiogram: An echocardiogram is an
ultrasound of the heart. The test uses sound
waves to shows the shape, texture and
movement of the heart's valves. The test also
shows the size of the heart chambers, muscle
thickness and how well they're working.



Holter monitor: A small, battery-powered
portable machine that records the heart’s rhythms,
usually for a 24-hour period. Small electrodes are
stuck to the chest and attached to a recorder that
stores the information. Patients go about their
activities wearing the monitor over the shoulder or
stashed in a pocket. The physician is able to
capture electrical heart tracings over a long period
of time.