Athlete's Heart?

[momshell7]

I have another strange question that I am hoping someone on here can help me with. A few weeks ago, I posted about a Detroit Red Wings player who collapsed during a hockey game. It was said then that he was diagnosed a few years ago with a thick heart. The cardiogists are saying now that tests show he has abnormally thick walls in his heart. Then the article goes on to say that "the debate in the medical community is whether the enlarged heart is simply "athlete's heart," which isn't dangerous, or another, more serious heart problem." My question is what is athlete's heart? Why is this not considered to be danerous? Sorry to be asking so many questions about this hockey player I am just very concerned about his health.

Thanks in advance.


Michelle

 

[mntbiker]

"Athletes heart" is a common term for an enlarged heart that is usually associated with repeated strenuous exercise. This is normal and there is usually no danger of heart problems. "Athlete's heart" becomes dangerous when the muscle wall of the lower chamber of the heart (Cardiomyopathy) or the walls of the heart's chambers thicken abnormally (Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy).

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (called athletic heart muscle disease) usually appears in young people, often in athletes. Due to the increased workload required of it, the heart will increase physiologically by enlarging its chambers and muscle mass, thus increasing the volume of blood pumped per stroke. As a result, the heart has to contract less frequently and at rest will beat as few as 40 times per minute. The average number of beats per minute in a non "athlete's heart" is 70 beats.

Link to the entire question and answer:
http://www.teenhealthfx.com/answers/Health/20572.html

There was also a study done a few years ago of pro bike racers and they found a very high concentration of this. pro racers typically drive into the anaerobic range more often, I would imagine skating would cause a similar result.

 

[momshell7]

Thank you so much for you response. It makes a lot more sense now. The article said that the same day the Red Wing player collapsed a 15 year old swimmer collapsed after a race with similar syptoms. She was not as lucky as she died. It's is so scary. There seems to be a lot of young athletes dying suddenly during games or practice. I can't help but wonder what the physicals cover. I would certainly think the heart should be checked but apparently it isn't checked unless they are given a reason to check. Sometimes that is too late.

Michelle