(By Dr Vidya Suratkar, who is a Cardiac Surgeon at Lilavati Hospital)
Athlete’s heart refers to the variations in the left ventricle of your heart and other alterations that occur when you engage in physical activity. The expert can detect abnormal heart sounds via a stethoscope or through tests. It is the need of the hour to seek timely intervention when it is a matter of the heart.
What Is Athlete’s Heart Or Athletic Heart?
Athlete’s heart means the alterations that occur in the heart as a result of engaging in intense physical activity for over an hour on most days of the week. Nevertheless, in certain athletes, these changes can cause the heart to resemble the appearance of cardiomyopathy. During exercise, the body requires more oxygen. In response to this increased demand, the left ventricle of the heart works harder by pumping more blood at a higher pressure. The oxygen-rich blood is carried to the body through the aorta. Over time, the left ventricle adapts by growing larger and developing thicker muscle in order to continue meeting the body’s need for oxygen and blood during exercise. When not exercising, the heart does not need to pump as much blood and can do so at a lower rate. This is why individuals with athlete’s heart syndrome have a lower resting heart rate compared to non-athletes. The symptoms of this condition are heart murmur, the heart rate is slow (bradycardia) and the blood pressure is lower.
The Diagnosis:
Athlete’s heart, or athletic heart syndrome, is a condition often misdiagnosed as a heart problem due to its similarities with cardiac diseases. Diagnosing an athlete’s heart requires an understanding of the changes that occur in the cardiovascular system with exercise and distinguishing them from other conditions. The doctor typically begins by taking a thorough medical history and conducting a physical examination. He/she may ask about exercise routines, training frequency, and duration to determine if the individual engages in prolonged and intense physical activity. Familiarity with their resting heart rate can also aid diagnosis since individuals with athlete’s heart often have lower resting heart rates. To confirm the diagnosis, even an electrocardiogram (ECG) or echocardiogram (EKG) can be done. These tests provide detailed information about the electrical activity of the heart and its structure and function respectively, and the doctor can differentiate between an athlete’s heart and other cardiac conditions.
Treatment For Athletic Heart:
The Treatment is not required for athlete’s heart syndrome. However, the doctor may advise you to take a break from training and undergo cardiac screening to rule out cardiomyopathy. In the majority of people. The heart gets back to its normal size once intense training is stopped.
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