$Unique_ID{BRK02080}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Sudden Death in Physically Fit People and the Decision to Begin an
Exercise Program}
$Subject{exercise movement physical fitness athlete athletes athletics heart
disease coronary artery diseases cardiac disease fitness program Sudden Death
Physically Fit}
$Volume{}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1993  Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Sudden Death in Physically Fit People and the Decision to Begin an Exercise
Program


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QUESTION:  Our community has been shocked by the death of an individual who
was a leader in the exercise movement, a semi-professional athlete and who was
apparently in great shape when he died.  There has been little information in
the newspapers to explain the causes of his death.  Does this mean that
exercise can be a cause of death?  I always thought that it was supposed to
help prevent an early demise.  I hope you will think that this question is
important enough to include in your column in the near future.

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ANSWER:  It is a very important question, for frequently the sudden death of
an individual who has followed a regular training program can cause second
thoughts in the minds of those who are either contemplating starting a program
or already exercising regularly.  Yet it is not an easy question to answer.
     It is important to distinguish between the causes of death in a younger
man, below the age of 35, from those that are present in older individuals.
Sudden death in the younger group is generally not preventable, is often
related to structural defects in the heart that may have been present from
birth, and are very difficult to detect even with our most advanced
technologies.  In the older man (I use the term advisedly as there are very
few cases in which a women athlete has been the casualty) the most common
cause is coronary artery disease.
     Yet most studies have shown, quite dramatically, that exercise leading to
fitness does reduce the risk of death from cardiac disease.  The benefits of a
well structured, properly executed fitness program far outweigh the risks that
are involved.  Yet there are risks to be considered.  There is no doubt that
an individual who is exercising is at a greater risk of sudden death than they
would be if they were sitting at home watching television.  So the answer to
your questions is "Yes".  Exercise can cause a sudden death in some cases,
while regular exercise also acts to prevent cardiac disease from developing.
Proper screening and exercise counseling can reduce your risks, and increase
your benefits even more so, to a level where regular exercise still makes
great sense to the overwhelming majority of individuals.

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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.