Exercise is a popular and proactive way to stay well-conditioned and keep many health issues at bay, with key benefits that include lower blood pressure and reduced stress hormones — both of which benefit the heart. Regular exercise can also function “like a beta blocker,” and can even help lessen the chance of events like a sudden heart attack, a Johns Hopkins Medicine article highlights. For avid athletes, however, heart health can become a bit complex, especially when strenuous and long training sessions come into play. From the paradox of ‘athlete’s heart’ to the power of heart-healthy habits (even when you’re just starting out), athletes can make heart health a priority throughout their career.
An overview of the athlete’s heart
Regular exercise is fantastic for the heart — it can make the organ stronger, can promote functional efficiency, and can play a role in reducing the risk of heart disease. When it becomes too much, however, the heart may become strained, and risks can become very real for some when done repeatedly at a high intensity. A University Hospitals (UH) article published in 2024, for instance, spotlights the words of UH director of sports cardiology, Bradley Lander, M.D., who notes that oftentimes, exercise is a positive thing. “But some studies show extreme exercise over long periods of time, like marathon running or triathlons, is associated with conditions like atrial fibrillation,” Lander points out.
Some individuals may actually be at a heightened risk of certain issues, like sudden cardiac arrest, for example, those with cardiac conditions that are underlying in nature, or who have a family history of heart issues, the University Hospitals article notes. This only further underlines the value of a reputable professional who understands the full scope of an athletic body. “Sports cardiology largely evolved out of the shared understanding that high levels of exercise training can have significant impact and implications on the heart,” explains Mayo Clinic sports cardiologist Kathryn F. Larson, M.D.. The Mayo Clinic article goes on to detail common problems that athletes may have in the realm of sports cardiology, which include those such as valve or coronary artery disease and arrhythmias.
Apart from the risks associated with intense exercise, ‘athlete’s heart,’ is the term used to describe the transformation that occurs when partaking in “strenuous exercise for more than one hour on most days of the week,” according to the Cleveland Clinic. This can result in a left ventricle that features more space and a thick ventricle wall, the Cleveland Clinic article explains. While the term athlete’s heart syndrome can sound rather worrying, the Cleveland Clinic notes that it affects just two percent of athletes, doesn’t require treatment, often goes away over time (after excessive exercise has ceased), and doesn’t cause sudden cardiac death. On the flip side, however, it’s noted that the condition does have the potential to resemble “a form of cardiomyopathy,” a serious concern that requires medical intervention. Routine check-ins with a medical professional are important, though can provide insight for those who are exercising more than most and can determine whether there’s a more serious issue at play.
The irrefutable power of treatment
Heart issues don’t necessarily mean that an athlete’s career is over. With professional oversight, heart healthy habits, and treatment, athletes can successfully navigate their career in a healthy way. Danish footballer Christian Eriksen is just one major example of a professional athlete that has experienced significant health issues that led to a harrowing collapse on the field due to cardiac arrest back in 2021, and the subsequent revival of his heart via an automated external defibrillator (AED). While many assumed that Eriksen’s career would come to a natural end, he has since received a device called an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD). The device, according to a 2022 BBC article by health reporter Jim Reed, is able to “reset the heart after a cardiac arrest.” Such treatment has allowed Eriksen to continue his career in 2022, underlining the power of proper medical treatment.
Treatment will look different based on an athlete’s individual health circumstances. For example, athletes that experience a cardiac issue like valvular heart disease may benefit from a minimally invasive standard procedure. A transcatheter valve implantation (TAVI) is just one option that may offer a viable treatment without having to go through full open heart surgery, specifically in order to help athletes with an aortic valve that happens to be not functioning correctly (an issue that may be aortic stenosis). Primarily used when the aortic valve is presenting as rigid or less wide, a TAVI procedure is often ideal in order to address blood flow issues, pain, and can help ease pressure on the heart, too. This is achieved through a new, replacement valve mechanism (of which consists of tissue from an animal). One of the biggest advantages that a TAVI procedure can bring, however, is that it can help an athlete from a heightened risk of heart failure. As for the recovery, athletes will likely be able to return to their sport as per professional medical recommendations.
Routine matters
Roger Black is another athlete that experienced heart health problems, having been diagnosed with an “incompetent aortic valve” at just age eleven, states an article from the British Heart Foundation (BHF) by Yianna Theodorou. Despite being initially told that he wasn’t permitted to play committed sports, he was eventually cleared to do so, and wound up taking home silver in the Men’s 400m Sprint in 1996. Throughout his life, Black has kept a close eye on his heart’s health through habits such as routine appointments. Now retired, however, he still prioritises his heart health. “From the day I retired, I’ve respected my heart far more than I ever did as an athlete,” he states, his words highlighted by the BHF piece.
Athletes that want to stay at the top of their game can take a page from Black’s book by prioritising heart health. In addition to routine appointments, diet is just one of the easiest ways to be proactive about heart health. The American Heart Association recommends eating before, during (when exercising for longer than an hour), and after a workout, making sure to prioritise options that include protein, healthy fats, carbohydrates, and of course, ample hydration. Discussing a diet plan that puts heart-healthy choices at the forefront of the plate with a nutritionist or a medical professional can be a great choice, and can also help set the building blocks for a diet that is nutritious and balanced throughout one’s career.
Exercise is a fantastic way to be proactive about heart health, though athletes must take extra care due to the often strenuous nature of competitive sports. By fully understanding the role that heart health plays, athletes can put heart health first through heart-healthy habits and routine check-ins and guidance from an experienced medical professional. For more information, click here.