Heart muscle inflammation in connection with sports
If you do not want to stop training despite a cold or flu, you should definitely see a doctor. He can examine the patient in detail and perform an ECG and blood analysis as part of this examination. In the ECG, any rhythm disturbances can be detected very well and early.
In the blood, the so-called CRP value is particularly important. This is an inflammation parameter that is elevated in inflammatory processes in the body triggered by pathogens. If a certain value is exceeded, a training break is recommended.
When the blood values and the ECG have returned to normal, training can then be resumed without hesitation. Of course, you do not have to spend several weeks in bed at the slightest sign of a cold, but you should not overdo it and should not underestimate the illness. In case of doubt, it is always best to see a doctor and get his advice and to take it easy for a little too long rather than not long enough.
The sudden cardiac arrest in myocarditis is caused by the weakening of the muscles. Certain areas are infected by viruses and cannot work properly because they are inflamed and/or have been killed by the immune system. On the one hand, the heart reacts with an accelerated pulse (tachycardia), and on the other hand, the transmission of excitation can be impaired in such a way that rhythm disturbances exist. In the worst case, the heart is not able to compensate for this condition if it is subjected to increased stress, as is the case with sports activities. The heart has to beat faster and stronger, pump more blood into the body in the same period of time in order to supply the muscles with sufficient blood.As a result, it may eventually fail to withstand this pressure and stop working completely.
Cold and heart muscle inflammation
Especially in the period of a feverish infection or a flu-like infection, it is best to avoid sports. Even a normally harmless cold, which may not make you feel sick at all, can precede heart muscle inflammation. However, most heart muscle inflammations are caused by viruses.
Frequently, so-called Coxsackie B and Parvovirus B19 viruses are responsible for myocarditis. These viruses penetrate the body and reach the heart via the bloodstream, where they damage the muscle cells. In order to reduce the risk of myocarditis, it is important during the time of the infection, it does not matter whether the infection is accompanied by a fever or not, it is important to take it easy and above all not to exercise. The inflammation of the heart muscle cells, which may be caused by a cold, can be further “fired” and aggravated by physical exertion. Therefore, it is important to take it easy when you have a cold or an infection.
