The most common cause in physical activity practitioners, and victims of sudden death is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, a disease that causes the thickening of the heart muscle. This greater volume remodels the organ’s shape, favors the appearance of malignant arrhythmias, and makes it difficult to pump blood. Thus, there are dysfunctions in the beats and a risk of cardiac arrest, that is, the heart stops working.
However, remember that sudden death can happen to those who practice sports. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is an inherited disease. So, if you have a family history of it, seek help from a cardiologist such as CardioCare for example to assess your health status properly. Even during light exertion, patients with this condition may experience cardiac arrest.
How Is The Diagnosis Made?
Diagnosing Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Pulmonary Emboli begins with the patient reporting the symptoms and some family history, with or without a case of sudden death. Then, the cardiologist will request an electrocardiogram, which checks the heartbeat.
The disease identification is completed with the transthoracic echocardiogram, which is like an ultrasound of the heart and makes it possible to see the organ working.
Heart Attack In Young And Old
As we have already mentioned, the problem in pumping blood, typical of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, leads to infarction. Contrary to what many people think, this condition is more serious in young people than in the elderly. The reason is that young people lack collateral circulation, which is the communication developed over the years between the three main arteries of the heart, with the formation of new blood vessels. This is important because when the blood is interrupted, the collateral circulation can supply the area the main artery is not supplying.
In the elderly, however, the interruption of blood flow is more related to atherosclerosis, the accumulation of fat in the arteries generated by bad lifestyle habits, such as an unhealthy diet and a sedentary lifestyle. Elderly people usually have collateral circulation, in addition to the main arteries, which decreases the severity of the infarction
Is It Possible To Prevent Sudden Death?
A check-up with the cardiologist before starting physical exercise is one of the simplest ways to prevent sudden death. The specialist will request tests to verify if there is any risk for the patient.
In addition, there are these other recommendations:
Athletes and people over 35 years old should visit the cardiologist at least once a year;
For high-performance athletes, the orientation is that the follow-up is carried out every six months.
Also, check if there is a history of cardiovascular disease in your family. If the answer is “yes,” don’t wait until age 35 to see a cardiologist.
Take Good Care Of Your Heart
We know that sudden death is a frightening topic. We must do what we can: keep our heart health up to date. If you have any questions and need to take care of yourself more, get in touch and schedule an appointment with our specialists.