The 6 Warning Signs of Heart Disease in Endurance Athletes—with Dr. Larry Creswell – EP94
We know that exercise is good for our hearts, yet we hear story after story of endurance athletes dying suddenly—almost always due to heart disease that has gone undetected. Just how common are fatalities at endurance races? What are the warning signs of heart disease? And what can we do to keep our hearts healthy and prevent any kind of cardiovascular event?
Dr. Larry Creswell is a thoracic surgeon affiliated with the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in Jackson. Dr. Larry received his medical training at Johns Hopkins University, and he has been practicing for 20-plus years. He is also an endurance athlete, currently training to swim the English Channel in 2019. Dr. Larry specializes in helping recreational athletes with heart issues, and he regularly shares content online through his blog, Athlete’s Heart.
Today, Dr. Larry joins us to share the warning signs of heart disease in endurance athletes. He explains the different types of heart arrythmias, offering his take on why atrial fibrillation is more common in athletes than the general population. Dr. Larry offers advice on maintaining heart health, covering the one-time tests he recommends, the best diet for cardiovascular health, and strategies for preventing heart disease. Listen in for Dr. Larry’s insight on taking care of your heart and putting yourself in a position to help others should they experience a cardiac event.
Topics Covered
[1:02] Dr. Larry’s interest in athletics and the heart- Decision to be active at age 40 (swimming, triathlon)
- Questions about heart in people healthy and fit
- 5 days/week with long swim on weekends
- Travel to venues with similar temperature
- 21 miles across, average of 14 hours
- 60 degrees without wetsuit
- Uncommon but startling to witness
- Almost always unrecognized heart disease
- Chest pain, tightness during exertion
- Unusual shortness of breath
- Palpitations or pounding in chest
- Light-headedness during exercise
- Fatigue out of proportion
- Decrease in performance
- Identify abnormally high heartrate when not exercising
- Indicative of arrythmia
- Bradycardia = <60 bpm
- Tachycardia = >100 bpm
- Atrial fibrillation = irregular
- Heart responds to exercise by growing
- May cause disorganized electrical activity
- Take aspirin or blood thinner
- Medication (occur less often, less severe)
- Ablation procedure
- Men experience crushing pain in chest
- Women’s pain subtler (i.e.: tightness)
- Discussion with doctor
- Specific tests based on symptoms
- Visit doctor for physical exam on annual basis
- One-time EKG to ensure normal electrical activity
- One-time echocardiogram to view heart structure
- Occurs when develop plaque around arteries
- No clear correlation with athletes
- Exercise on regular basis
- Eat well and don’t smoke
- Be honest about warning signs
- Seek help when necessary
- Early coronary heart disease in family tree
- Relatives die suddenly without explanation
- Inherited problems cause sudden death (e.g.: long QT syndrome)
- Real food like lean proteins, fruits and vegetables
- Avoid processed foods with more than 5 ingredients
- Limit sodium intake (season food with alternatives)
- Fall to ground, pulseless and not breathing
- Perform CPR promptly and get defibrillator
- 15% survival rate outside hospital setting
- Up to 30% if access to defibrillator, CPR
- Skeptical that exercise is detrimental to heart
- Professional cyclists have higher longevity than gen pop
- 150 minutes aerobic training per week
- 30 minutes of resistance training
- Take care of heart best you can
- Be in position to help others
Learn More About Dr. Larry Creswell
Resources
AHA Recommendations for Physical Activity
CDC Physical Activity Guidelines
