$Unique_ID{BRK01883}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{What is an "Athlete's Heart"?}
$Subject{athlete athletes Athlete's athletic Heart pulse symptom symptoms
health healthy exercise exercises cardiac hypertrophy ventricle ventricles
blood circulation circulatory}
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Blood Flow in the Heart*0004103.scf}

Copyright (c) 1993  Tribune Media Services, Inc.


What is an "Athlete's Heart"?


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QUESTION:  My friend tells me he is blessed with a slow pulse, and that he
therefore has an "athlete's heart".  The man doesn't do a confounded physical
thing all day, and I can't understand this.  Can you tell me what an athlete's
heart is and what symptoms might accompany this condition?  Has he discovered
a new and easy way to develop this condition, and is it really all that
healthy?  Thanks for your fine column, I have learned a great deal.

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ANSWER:  Yes, an athlete's heart can be a fine thing, if you are an elite
athlete, and the condition represents an adaptation of the heart to prolonged
endurance exercise.  There are two essential elements of athlete's heart, a
slow pulse, often less than 40 beats a minute, and a thickened heart wall.
Called cardiac hypertrophy, the wall of the left ventricle (responsible for
pushing the blood through the body's circulatory system) becomes thicker and
stronger, and is thus able to respond to the demands of athletic activity.
And there are no symptoms, such as pain, shortness of breath or unusual
fatigue associated with an athlete's heart.  But careful now!  Both a slow
pulse and a thickened heart wall can be the result of circumstances that are
far less desirable.  If your friend is the couch potato you describe, a full
examination is in order to discover the true cause of his slow pulse.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.