Sports in structural heart disease (for example coronary heart disease)

If there is a structural heart disease, a light physical load can be recommended after a thorough preliminary examination and if there are no symptoms. Exceptional stress and competitive sports should not be performed, however.

Competitive sports

So-called bradycardic cardiac dysrhythmia, i.e. slow cardiac dysrhythmia, can be frequently observed in competitive athletes. This is caused by a structural adjustment of the heart to the heavy load. As part of the structural adjustment, there is an increase in the heart muscle mass and volume of the heart (also known as the so-called athlete’s heart).

Thus, the cardiac output, i.e. the volume of blood sent by the heart to the body’s circulation per minute, is increased. This results in an improved supply of blood and thus oxygen to the body during exercise. The cardiac output per minute is generally dependent on the volume of blood that is released by the heart and on the heart rate.

At rest, the heart minute volume should be reduced again. To achieve this, the heart rate is lowered. This explains why a pulse of 40 beats per minute can be measured for competitive athletes at rest. This form of cardiac dysrhythmia is generally harmless and normally not dangerous to health.

Sudden cardiac death

One speaks of sudden cardiac death in sports if it occurs during physical exertion or up to one hour after exertion. The following things promote the occurrence of sudden cardiac death: As a result, young people are significantly less likely to be affected than older people. The risk of sudden cardiac death can increase 20 to 100 times with age.

In young years, previously unknown anomalies, i.e. malformations, are usually the cause of sudden cardiac death. In old age, the trigger is mostly atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries, also known colloquially as arteriosclerosis. Trigger of a sudden cardiac death are the sports which are also very popular and are practiced most often. The most popular sports are soccer, swimming, cycling and jogging.

Male sex
Advanced age
Poor training condition
Strongly straining sport and
Existing risk factors for atherosclerosis, such as smoking