Cardiac Conditions: Signs of Heart Problems During Exercise

Exercising is good for your cardiac health. But watch out for these signs of heart problems during exercise, and take the right step for your wellness.

No pain, no gain. One more mile. One more rep. Pushing the body to the limits is a way of life for high school, elite, and weekend warrior athletes. But what happens when you push beyond the body’s limits, and it says, “Enough?"

In sudden cardiac arrest, the heart suddenly loses its normal rhythm and stops pumping blood. It typically strikes without warning, and unless effective emergency steps are taken immediately, death or serious disability will occur.

Sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes is usually caused by a structural or electrical abnormality of the heart. Most of these abnormalities are inherited, but remain undiagnosed and may be unknown to the athlete.

Exercise can be a trigger for sudden cardiac arrest in individuals with an abnormal heart condition.

Because these inherited conditions often run in families, any athlete who has a family member who developed heart disease or died suddenly from heart disease at an early age, particularly before age 40, should be evaluated for these heart conditions by a knowledgeable physician.

In some cases, a hard blow to the chest, for example from a baseball or hockey puck or from contact with another player, can trigger sudden cardiac arrest. When this happens it is called “commotio cordis.”

Commotio cordis consists of an abnormal heart rhythm (ventricular fibrillation) and cardiac arrest right after getting hit in the chest. In most cases, the cause is a baseball, hockey puck or lacrosse ball hitting the left side of your chest.

 Signs of heart trouble

Even if you’ve previously had a heart attack, another one could have entirely different symptoms. Seek medical attention immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms.

Chest discomfort

Many people associate sudden and intense chest pain with heart attack.

Shortness of breath

A feeling of unusual breathlessness with chest discomfort during an activity is often a precursor to a heart attack.

Dizziness or light-headedness

While physical activity may make you feel fatigued, especially if you’re not used to it, you should never feel dizzy or light-headed while exercising.

Heart rhythm abnormalities

The sensation of your heartbeat skipping, palpitating, or thumping could indicate a heart-related problem.

Discomfort in other areas of the body

Heart problems can cause sensations in other areas of the body besides your chest.

Unusual sweating

Although sweating during exercise is normal, nausea and breaking into a cold sweat are warning signs of a possible problem.

Ask your doctor about an outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program to assist with developing the best exercise program and assisting with lifestyle changes such as heart healthy diet, quitting smoking, weight loss and stress managemen

Sources:

1. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, Physical Activity and Mortality Among Male Survivors of Myocardial Infarction
2. World Journal of Cardiology, Physical Activity in Primary and Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: Overview Updated
3. Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease. Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training on Physical Health in Coronary Artery Disease Patients: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
4. Journal of the American Heart Association, Take a Deep, Resisted, Breath