Everyone around you is passionate about running, and many of them are preparing for a marathon. But high loads have their own risks. Even professional athletes can stop their hearts from them. How to protect yourself?

It’s hard to say.

If a simple conversation with your doctor or ECG could rule out this finding, that would be great. But the truth is this: until a race or other physical activity appears, nothing maybe Don’t point To problems.

A Additional research They often cause harm: for example, the doctor may see some features on the electrocardiogram In reality Only them Variant of the norm. It may not be clear to the specialist, and further research will be needed to rule out various diseases. “What initially seems like an inexpensive test can quickly turn into an expensive and stressful experience.” He writes In her column for STAT, medical student Katherine Hoffman drew on her own experience.

There is another problem. In some cases, the doctor may find that some problems do not exist or are minor. To be on the safe side, he will recommend limiting physical activity, as physical activity is good for health. In addition, the mere need to undergo some tests will be an obstacle for people who can start exercising regularly.

Now the doctors Converge Although some tests before the start of intense training or competitions may be useful, but which ones are a debatable question. By creating recommendations and specialists Must be taken into consideration The risks to which different groups of athletes are exposed, such that the benefits of such studies outweigh the harms. For exampleThe age and intensity of the expected loads are important. And also – whether the person has trained before, whether cardiovascular diseases have been diagnosed.

There are still some, but they don’t always match each other.

Initially, it is important to have the condition evaluated by a doctor who regularly works with athletes and specializes in such problems. This could be a cardiologist or sports medicine doctor. Because without the proper experience He can Misinterpretation of data.

Another key point: physician organizations now to retreat It is a strict recommendation and invites the doctor and patient to discuss the benefits and risks first in order to make a joint decision. That is, there is no mandatory search.

Specifically, there are two types Main roads Health checks that are generally reasonable to consider. This is a scan with examination and electrocardiogram. Some doctors sometimes use 24-hour ECG monitoring right from the start. But this is a bad idea. now unknownHow accurate would these studies be in identifying problems if they were used on everyone: how many people were left without a correct diagnosis as a result and how many people got the wrong diagnosis. So such methods Not recommended Apply first (but may be needed later).

Some people like He thinks Doctors can do without checks. For example, those who have just decided to abandon a sedentary lifestyle, but do not plan to immediately switch to physical activity within their capabilities. However, it is best to consult a doctor if you know that you have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, for example, due to high blood pressure, smoking or obesity. Or there were people in your family who were diagnosed before the age of 45.

If you have already started exercising and during this process you experience warning symptoms, you also need a doctor’s care. These include pain or heaviness in the chest, unusual shortness of breath, loss of consciousness and dizziness. The problem may also be that the heartbeat becomes very noticeable or changes sharply and unexplainably (and you can feel it).

It is even necessary to consult a medical professional if you are about to start intense physical activity against the background of these symptoms.

People who exercise may Costs Have an ECG and cardiovascular risk assessment with your doctor annually. Of course, a person must be aware of the signs that may indicate heart problems. If it appears, you should consult a doctor without delay.

In those under 35 years of age, e.g He thinks Medical organizations, standard Before competition He is Medical examination, collection of personal and medical history, and possibly an EKG (opinions vary here).

The need for pre-competition ECG in athletes 35 years and older Reasons Less controversy (although that too Reasons). In addition, your doctor will likely suggest cardiovascular risks. The fact is that at this age athletes often die from such “acquired” health problems as myocardial infarction on the background of atherosclerosis. But the human condition can be evaluated. ECG with stress recommend It is performed only if there are already signs of cardiovascular disease, as well if A person wants to start immediately with high loads.

YesIt is usually an undiagnosed disease. Sometimes this is his first appearance.

In athletes under 35 years of age, this is most often caused by hereditary arrhythmias or congenital or acquired (eg, due to infections) disorders of the heart structure. Intense exercise increases the risk of these problems developing in serious ways. After 35 years, the main cause is coronary atherosclerosis and, as a result, myocardial infarction.

research Give different resultsbut clearThe percentage of professional athletes whose heart stops during exercise higherFrom the share of amateur athletes. On the other hand, there are more non-specialists, so More of them Problems arise. This happens more often with men.

The scope of studies on cardiac arrests in professional athletes is Very big: From one in a million to one in five thousand per year. For amateurs, the data is of better quality and consistency: approximately two out of every 100,000 people a year suffer a cardiac arrest due to physical exertion. In some countries the probability is less than that. The risk is higher in people over 35 years of age.

These numbers may vary depending on the sport. For example, in a large one research It found that out of 10.9 million marathon and half-marathon participants, 59 had a heart attack (40 of them ran the marathon, the rest ran the half marathon). That is, the problems arose among one person out of 184,000. This happens in triathlon. Often.

Follow established protocol. The actions of others a lot Impact on whether a person survives or not. Of course, it is better to know what to do without us – after first aid courses. But if you have not reached them yet, we will briefly tell you the essence, and for details it is better to go to our further instructions.

1. Make sure the person is unconscious: call them and shake them gently.
2. Check if he is breathing. To do this, place the person on his back on a flat surface. Use the fingertips of one hand to lift his lower jaw, then place the other hand on his forehead and tilt his head back. Bend over and turn your head so you can see if his chest rises so that your ear is near his nose. Watch for 10 seconds.
3. If the person is not breathing, ask a friend to call an ambulance.
4. Send someone else to look (it could be, for example, at the reception desk where you are playing, at the supermarket or pharmacy). Make it a habit to look for publicly available defibrillators so you know where to go if needed.
5. If someone in your group knows how to do chest compressions, let them start. Complete artificial respiration. If no one knows how, that’s okay: do it according to our instructions. It’s better to do it the way you do it than not to do it at all. Place the bottom of your hand in the middle of the person’s chest, at the lower end. Place your other hand on top and interlace your fingers. Keep your arms straight and press your chest so that it pushes out about five centimetres, but no more than six centimetres. Repeat at a pace of 100-120 taps per minute (for example, to the beat of a song) “Survival” Bee Gees).
6. When the AED is brought to you, follow the instructions written on it and addressed to you.

If a friend can be saved and turns out to have heart problems, so be it He can Keep exercising – just maybe Not severe. And not something that could damage a pacemaker, for example (not hockey or boxing, for example).