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sabcarrera
Joined: 11 Oct 2006
Posts: 178
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 Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:08 am Post subject: screening for heart problems |
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It appears that heart problems are more common than we assume. Cycling is probably at the forefront of medical supervision and I know that cyclists undergo extensive testing including ultrasound scans on their heart to check for any deformities.
However, it's good idea to know your limits and train up slowly.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Hear...eNews/story?id=7192905&page=1
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CapeRoadie
Joined: 15 Oct 2006
Posts: 9583
Location: The sandy windswept peninsula
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| Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 1:13 pm Post subject: Re: screening for heart problems |
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| sabcarrera wrote: | It appears that heart problems are more common than we assume. Cycling is probably at the forefront of medical supervision and I know that cyclists undergo extensive testing including ultrasound scans on their heart to check for any deformities.
However, it's good idea to know your limits and train up slowly.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Hear...eNews/story?id=7192905&page=1 |
I'm not so sure this study shows that heart problems are more common than we assume. The St. Luke's study from Kansas City found that:
| Quote: | | ...about one-third of the college athletes showed signs of heart abnormalities. Moreover, researchers found signs of potential heart disease in about one in 10 of the athletes they screened. |
In the first place, there isn't anything in the ABC report that compares those numbers with the general population. Further, I'm not convinced that these signs of "abnormalities" (1 in 3) and "potential heart disease" (1 in 10) equate to any real findings. There is a problem with false negatives from ECG interpretation according to the report, and I agree with that. It was Mr. Cherry's physical examination (not ECG) that found his particular condition (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy).
This one study is just one study, don't forget. I'm not convinced 10% of college athletes actually have heart disease, nor am I convinced that 1/3 have heart abnormalities. That doesn't sound right on its surface, and I don't think an ECG is the best way to screen, in any case. I think clinical history and physical examination are more important. It's sometimes a very long reach from having "potential" and "signs of" something, to having actual disease. It will be interesting to see scientific debate on the issue continue.
I'm also not sold on taking Crestor (or other statins) as a preventive approach to heart disease in healthy persons (JUPITER study), although a big study in NEJM last November proposed it. See:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97007885
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sabcarrera
Joined: 11 Oct 2006
Posts: 178
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| Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 1:25 pm Post subject: |
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In Italy older cyclists are screened intensively if they want to compete. I don't race but had an ultrasound done. I know that ECG gives false positives and negatives. Two people I know had serious heart problems not longer after getting a clean ECG.
The trouble with cycling is that it takes your heart to the limit and beyond. |
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thunderthighs
Joined: 26 Apr 2007
Posts: 1481
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| Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 2:10 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="sabcarrera"]In Italy older cyclists are screened intensively if they want to compete. I don't race but had an ultrasound done. I know that ECG gives false positives and negatives. Two people I know had serious heart problems not longer after getting a clean ECG.
The trouble with cycling is that it takes your heart to the limit and beyond.[/quote]...
yes it does.. many of my freinds have issues......thats scarey..ciao |
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CapeRoadie
Joined: 15 Oct 2006
Posts: 9583
Location: The sandy windswept peninsula
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| Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 2:11 pm Post subject: |
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| sabcarrera wrote: | In Italy older cyclists are screened intensively if they want to compete. I don't race but had an ultrasound done. I know that ECG gives false positives and negatives. Two people I know had serious heart problems not longer after getting a clean ECG.
The trouble with cycling is that it takes your heart to the limit and beyond. |
The more info the better, surely. Certainly for aging racing cyclists that makes a lot of sense.
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END THE MADNESS
I dduw bo'r diolch
"This bike is so pimp it hit your mother and all she could say was 'Thank you, sir!'". |
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last km
Joined: 20 Feb 2008
Posts: 3280
Location: Tewkesbury & Brinscall in't north lad
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| Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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My father died relatively young at 67 of a massive heart attack......Id been racing for years and when he died I decided to have a check up
 I had high blood pressure.......the doctor suggested I stop racing till it was under control.......which it now is and im back racing ...any time soon......worth any one with a family history of heart problems getting a good check up......we get our cars an MOT.......do the same for your body
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sabcarrera
Joined: 11 Oct 2006
Posts: 178
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| Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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Twelve apparently fit and healthy young people die from undiagnosed heart conditions each week in the UK
About one in every 20 cases of sudden death from an inherited heart condition is due to Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (Sads)
Sads is where no definite cause of death can be found even after the heart has been examined by an expert pathologist
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8026860.stm
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