Know about Athletic heart syndrome
June 13, 2016
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Athletic heart syndrome
Athletic heart syndrome is a heart condition that may occur in people who exercise or train for more than an hour a day, most days of the week. Athletic heart syndrome isn't necessarily bad for you if you're an athlete. And it's not what makes young athletes expire in mid-court. While it does lead to structural changes in the heart, a person with the condition usually doesn't notice any symptoms. Athletic heart syndrome doesn't require treatment and is important to diagnose only to rule out heart problems that are serious.
Like any other muscle, the heart gets stronger with exercise. Endurance exercises such as jogging, swimming, and cycling can make the organ bigger, allowing it to pump more blood with every beat. Short, intense workouts such as weight lifting further increase the pumping power by thickening the walls of the heart.
Just as body builders sculpt their abs and biceps into highly unusual shapes, many hard-core, competitive athletes develop extraordinary hearts. Not only is the heart extra large and thick, it also may produce some irregular rhythms (arrhythmia). A person with athletic heart syndrome may also have a markedly slow resting heart rate, in the range of 35 to 50 beats a minute. In addition, electrical impulses can take strange routes across the heart, causing abnormal readings on an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). Together, these changes produced by exercise are called athletic heart syndrome.
Symptoms
Many people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy do not have symptoms. But if symptoms occur, at first they generally include:
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea).
- Chest pain or discomfort (angina).
- Fainting or near-fainting (syncope), especially with exertion.
- Heart palpitations, an uncomfortable awareness of the heart beating rapidly or irregularly.
Sudden death may occur from the onset of ventricular tachycardia (a type of rapid heart rate) or other dangerous arrhythmias. A genetic factor appears to influence which people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are more prone to sudden death. Other risk factors for sudden death include severe obstruction of the left ventricle, multiple fainting (syncope) episodes, recurring episodes of ventricular tachycardia, and an abnormal drop in blood pressure during exercise.
How can I know if I have Athletic Heart Syndrome?
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can be difficult to diagnose, because it may not always cause symptoms. The first step in diagnosing heartproblems is a thorough medical history and physical exam.
You will usually have one or more of the following tests to help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition.
Electrocardiogram: An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) measures the electrical activity as it moves through the heart during contraction and relaxation. An abnormal electrocardiogram may be the first sign of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in people who do not have any symptoms.
Echocardiogram: An echocardiogram (echo) is a type of ultrasound exam that uses high-pitched sound waves to create an image of the heart, which is seen on a television screen. An echo is the main tool used to help doctors diagnose hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and find out how bad it is.
Exercise Test: Your doctor may have you run on a treadmill or pedal a stationary bike while he or she looks at how well your heart and lungs are working. An exercise test can give the doctor (and you) an idea of how hard and how long you can exercise.
Food That Cure Athletic Heart Syndrome
Flaxseed: A number of studies have demonstrated that flaxseed may signficantly lower total and LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels. Postmenopausal women and individuals with higher cholesterol levels may be more likely to benefit from flaxseed's cholesterol-fighting effects.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Studies show that boosting your levels of omega-3 fatty acids (by eating fish or taking fish oil supplements) may help keep your cholesterol and blood pressure in check, slow the progression of atherosclerosis, and lower risk of heart attack, stroke, and death among people with cardiovascular disease.
Garlic: Preliminary research indicates that garlic may hinder the development of atherosclerosis. However, studies on garlic's cholesterol and blood pressure lowering effects have yielded mixed results.