Dangerous sports: which exercises increase the risk of sudden cardiac arrest

0

Everyone knows about the benefits of physical exercise for maintaining cardiovascular health. According to a review in Circulation, people who exercised for 150 minutes a week had a 14% lower risk of coronary heart disease than those who ignored sports. However, exercise can also increase the risk of heart problems.

First of all, we are talking about long-term and high-intensity physical activity. Researchers analyzed the effects of extreme exercise and concluded that it can dramatically, albeit temporarily, increase the risk of sudden cardiac arrest in people with heart problems.

In Canada, a survey of athletes aged 12 to 45 revealed 74 cases of heart attacks over the entire history of observations. Thus, the incidence rate is 0.76 cases per 100,000 athletes per year. At the same time, 16 attacks occurred during sports competitions. A study conducted with the participation of marathon runners showed that even after the competition, the athletes' blood samples contain biomarkers associated with heart damage. The results were published by the US National Library of Medicine.

Scientists concluded that constant high-intensity training and endurance competitions can lead to heart damage and rhythm disturbances. Those with genetic risk factors for cardiovascular disease are particularly vulnerable.