Athletes beware – endurance training may make it more likely that you will need a pacemaker, scientists believe.
A British Heart Foundation team found exercise in mice triggers molecular changes in the part of the heart that generates its natural beating rhythm.
This may explain why elite athletes have low resting heart rates and a higher risk heart rhythm disturbances, they told Nature Communications.
However, the benefits of exercising still outweigh any risks, experts say.
“Start Quote
If the findings are reproduced in humans they could have implications for heart health in older athletes -but much more research is needed before we could draw that conclusion”
Prof Jeremy PearsonBritish Heart Foundation
Super-fit
Endurance athletes are generally very fit.
Yet, paradoxically, they are more likely to have heart rhythm disturbances, known as arrhythmias, especially as they get older – although the risk is still small.
Experts have suspected that this is because long-term training for extreme endurance events such as marathons and triathlons slows the heartbeat down.
While normal adults have resting heart rates between 60-100 beats per minute, hearts of endurance athletes can beat only 30 times per minute or even less at night time when there can be long pauses between heart beats.
Continue reading the main story in BBC
Categories: Americas, Biology, Europe and Australia, Health, Science
1 reply ›