comedian Raju Srivastava had a heart attack on August 10th training at the gym. Over the years, there have been reports linking strenuous physical activity with sudden cardiac death. Does high-intensity exercise increase heart attack risk?
What Causes Heart Attacks?
A heart attack is caused when a coronary artery that supplies the heart muscle suddenly becomes blocked.
“Chronic occlusion of more than 70% of the coronary arteries causes angina pectoris or chest pain on exertion because the available blood supply does not meet the increased demand for oxygen during exercise. A heart attack (acute myocardial infarction) can also occur when plaque ruptures and forms large clots.This can occur without warning symptoms.Even 30% of plaques rupture. can lead to the formation of large occlusive thrombi.
A common misconception is that the blockage is caused by the deposition of fat (lipids, cholesterol) and cells in the walls of arteries. This is similar to blockages in plumbing in your home. According to Tushar Gore, Ph.D., managing director of Resonance Laboratories, this is not true.
“The blockage is the result of cells and cholesterol particles breaking through the endothelial cell barrier and infiltrating the intima of the artery. The result is a pimple-like bump on the artery wall. This is known as plaque or stenosis. Plaque does not have to bulge into the artery, but it can also protrude outwards.The resolution and destruction of such blockages within the coronary arteries requires blood to “repair” the damage caused by plaque disruption. It initiates the clotting mechanism,” he says.
According to Dr. Reddy, “plaques form in the coronary arteries when the intima is damaged by inflammatory factors.”
Fat circulating in the blood can deposit at the site of injury and cause plaque to grow, says Dr. Reddy.
High blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, unhealthy diet, stress, lack of sleep, or recent infections are factors that can cause such inflammation.
“Each of the chronic causes of inflammation can also acutely cause plaque rupture leading to heart attack if one or more of these factors are suddenly or severely elevated,” Dr. Reddy added.
What Causes Cardiac Death During Exercise?
Sudden cardiac death during strenuous physical activity occurs more frequently when the obstruction is undiagnosed or in the background of a known diagnosis.
Vigorous exercise can also cause plaque rupture and electrical disturbances in the heart that can lead to cardiac arrest.
Dr. Suman Bhandari, Visiting Consultant in Interventional Cardiology, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, said: heart failure). “
This does not mean that exercise is bad for your heart. “It is imperative to detect and control risk factors for plaque formation and rupture in the coronary arteries. More caution is needed,” says Dr. Reddy.
Are diagnostic tests helpful?
To identify risk, you need to detect three things: Presence of small plaques. potential for plaque rupture (known as fragility); and blood clotting strength. A reliable non-invasive diagnostic test is only available for the detection of the first small plaques. Nonetheless, each of these tests (even if available) does not provide a guaranteed window into the future, as lifestyle and environmental conditions change all three factors.
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