Fit people need better heart health

Yashoda Hospitals conducted awareness programme for athletes and fitness freaks at its premises in Secunderabad on Friday. The event, which was organised as part of ‘World Heart Day’, focussed on the dangers of over training and collapsing during the same due to cardiac arrest.

“A large percentage of common people in the society is suffering from the heart diseases like stroke, heart attack, heart failure. Unfortunately, people who are striving hard to be healthy with regular exercise, games and sports are also succumbing to heart problems,” said Dr Rajashekar, senior interventional cardiologist at Yashoda Hospitals.

“Now we have answers from scientific papers to a lot of questions related to this,” he said. “At least 80 per cent of premature deaths (because of cardiovascular diseases) can be prevented,” said Dr GS Rao, the Managing director of Yashoda Group of Hospitals. He also said that this programme is organised to make athletes and fitness freak aware of the possible ways of preventing the heart problems.

Is long distance running unsafe for your heart? “Not really! In-fact runners are known to suffer lesser heart problems and live longer than non-runners. Multiple studies show that running burns calories more efficiently than moderate- intensity exercises like brisk walking and jogging,” explained Dr Rajashekar.

“Though sudden cardiac arrest among runners and athletes is rare such anecdotes cause a lot of dismay. As with most things in life, moderation is pivotal for a healthy exercise routine like running. What is now evident is that exercise-related cardiac arrest is extremely rare. Most often they are because of pre-existing heart problems that have gone undetected or have been ignored. And importantly heart disease often gives warning signs if one cares to listen to one's body. A few symptoms mean that your body needs protection,” he said.

“As a rule, your heart rate should not cross more than double of the baseline heart rate. Ten percent of variation is within the safe zone. Participation screening is an extremely valuable method to detect and treat pre-existing heart problems. People taking up endurance sport like marathons preparticipation screening is very essential. For regular runners, annual screening of cardiovascular fitness would suffice,” he advised.

Fitness coach, Sunil Menon presented details about correct training and recovery methods. “As there were no trained fitness coaches to many running enthusiasts in the state many fitness freaks think harder you run higher the benefit. And in many cases that lead to dangerous consequences,” he said.

“It is always better to begin small and increase it taking note of one’s personal capacity to work out. It is wise to believe and fallow Consistent baby steps continued will lead to a breakthrough,” he said. Over 300 athletes, fitness freaks, doctors, physio therapists attended the awareness programme in which the hospital launched a ‘Special Heart Screening Package’ with thirteen key tests.