Why Athletes Can Also Be At Risk For Heart Conditions

We tend to associate athletes with strength, energy, and wellness. However, even the fittest individuals can experience significant cardiac issues. Being an athlete does not provide someone immunity from heart disease. In rare cases, excessive physical training can even increase the risk of cardiac issues.

Let us take a closer look at why athletes are not always safe from heart issues.

The Heart Changes but Sometimes Too Much

Regular exercise makes the heart stronger. In many athletes who train for long hours, this can lead to something known as athlete heart. It is a harmless increase in the size of the heart and the thickness of its walls. This happens as the heart gets used to harder work.

But this can look very similar to some heart diseases, such as hypertrophic heart muscle. Both can show the same changes on basic tests like ECG or heart scan. Without proper check-ups, some athletes may live with a hidden serious issue.

Some Problems Run in the Family

Some heart issues are not caused by daily habits but come from family history. Conditions like thick heart muscle, weak right side of the heart, or electric rhythm problems can be passed down through genes.

These often show no signs for years. A person may not feel anything until something sudden happens, like fainting during a run or, sadly, sudden death. Since athletes push their bodies more than usual, these hidden problems can show up during exercise.

Not Every Chest Pain Is Muscle Pain

Active people often think pain or tiredness is just part of training. But sometimes, chest pain, trouble breathing, or a strange heartbeat may mean more than just a hard workout. Ignoring these early signs can be dangerous.

Excess Endurance May Be Dangerous 

Few research states that extreme training like  running many marathons, can cause physical changes to the heart over time, such as scarring or issues with heart rhythm, such as tachycardia. This serves as a reminder that the heart has limits.

Use of Substances That Boost Performance

Not all athletes do this, but some may use drugs to build more muscle or improve performance. These drugs can hurt the heart. They can increase blood pressure, cause abnormal thickening of the heart, and raise the risk of fast or uneven heartbeats or even a heart attack in young people.

Why Heart Check-ups Matter

The biggest issue is that many athletes feel healthy. They are strong and full of energy. But without a basic heart test, they may not know they have a problem.

Examinations are very important for athletes that have

•  Family history of sudden death
•  Experienced fainting or chest pain with workouts
•  Family history of heart problems
• Experienced rapid breathing or irregular heartbeat for unknown reason

Being active is one of the best ways to stay healthy. But being fit does not mean there are no risks. For athletes, especially those who train the hardest or play in events, regular heart check-ups are very important.

At Sugam Hospital, you can consult the best cardiologist in Chennai and get a full heart test for people of all fitness levels,including sports players. If you or someone you know trains often and has not had a heart test, this may be the right time.

Your heart is strong. But it still needs the right care.