Older males who compete in endurance sports more likely to have heart scarring, study finds
Sudden cardiac death is a "leading cause of mortality" in athletes, experts said as they set out to investigate whether endurance athletes had heart scarring and linked heart rhythm problems.
Academics studied 106 former competitive cyclists and triathletes who exercise for more than 10 hours a week for at least 15 years. Experts from the University of Leeds scanned their hearts and had an implantable loop recorder fitted to assess their heart rhythms.
They found that 50 of the 106 athletes (47%) had scarring on their hearts, particularly in the left ventricle - the main pumping chamber of the heart. This compares to 11% of 27 non-endurance athletes studied for comparison.
During a two-year follow-up period they found that 22% of the athletes had an abnormal heart rhythm, according to the study published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging.
They concluded that the athletes who had heart scarring were over 4.5 times more likely to experience an abnormal heart rhythm episode - which is linked with an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest - compared to those without scarring.
It is thought that among endurance athletes scarring could be caused by levels of exercise when the heart has to work even harder to pump blood.
Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, clinical director at the British Heart Foundation and consultant cardiologist, said: "There's no doubt that exercise is good for our hearts - it helps to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, manage our weight, and it boosts our mental health.
But in some veteran male athletes, this early research suggests that intense exercise over many years may have affected their heart health.
"More research in veteran endurance athletes - both in men and women - will be needed to identify the small number of people who have the kind of heart scarring, together with other risk factors, that mean their life could be saved by having an implantable defibrillator."
One of the athletes who took part in the trial was Brian Cookson, keen cyclist and former president of British Cycling and Union Cycliste Internationale - cycling's world governing body. The 74-year-old grandfather from Whalley in Lancashire, England, said the trial could have saved his life.
While training at the Manchester Velodrome he started feeling unwell and his sports watch recorded his heart rate had reached 238 beats per minute (bpm), and stayed that way for around 15 minutes.
"I was pushing it a little bit on the track, but not absolutely full gas, as we say in cycling," Mr Cookson said.
He contacted the team involved with the study who reviewed data from his implanted device to record his heart rhythm. They were able to see he had suffered an episode of ventricular tachycardia - an abnormally fast heartbeat where the heart's ventricles contract too quickly and do not pump blood around the body effectively.
"The next day, I got a call. They said, 'Stop riding your bike, don't do anything more strenuous than walking until we can get you in here because we think you need an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)'," he said.
He was fitted with one of the devices in August last year which shocks the heart if it goes into an abnormal rhythm. Mr Cookson, who is still cycling, said: "I keep a closer eye on my heart rate now and if I'm getting to 150bpm I'll start backing off.
I'm so grateful to have been part of this study. It might well have saved my life. Without it, I might have carried on pushing myself until something more serious happened.
Dr Peter Swoboda, associate professor in cardiology and consultant cardiologist at the University of Leeds, who led the study, said: "In our study, the athletes who experienced dangerous heart rhythms often had symptoms first.
"I'd encourage anyone who experiences blackouts, dizziness, chest pain or breathlessness, whether during sport or at rest, to speak to their doctor and get it checked out.
"These results shouldn't put people off regular exercise.
"Our study focused on a very select group, and not all the athletes involved were found to have scarring in their hearts. We can all benefit from being more active, and this study is an important step towards helping people take part in sport as safely as possible."
Read More
How to start lifting weights and build muscle in mid-life
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Sunday World
Family in shock: ‘We found out from a WhatsApp that my mother had died by assisted suicide'
Swiss clinic criticised by family of Cavan woman (58) with history of mental illness after they were left in dark over her death plan Or at least that is what her family have been told. None of them were with the 58-year-old as she slipped away at a clinic in Switzerland. In fact, news of Ms Slough's death reached her daughter, Megan Royal, back in Dublin by WhatsApp. Ms Royal was horrified to be informed that her mother's ashes would be posted to her. Now the family of the Cavan-based woman, who had a long history of mental illness and had tried to take her own life last year, want to know how somebody's life could be ended in such a manner. Maureen Slough Ms Slough travelled to the Pegasos clinic in Switzerland less than a month ago, on July 8, having told her family she was going to Lithuania with a friend. Her family became suspicious and contacted her. They say she promised to return. But Ms Royal and Ms Slough's partner, Mick Lynch, would later receive a message from a volunteer for the Pegasos group to inform them of her death. The family immediately set about trying to find out why they were not informed by the clinic in advance, and also questioned if Ms Slough's history of mental illness was assessed by the clinic first. The Pegasos group has said in response to questions from family and friends of Ms Slough, that it received a letter from Ms Slough's daughter Megan saying she was aware of her mother's wishes and accepted them. It also says it verified the letter through an email response to Ms Royal using an email address supplied by Ms Slough. Ms Royal has said she never wrote such a letter or verified any contact from Pegasos, and now her family think Ms Slough may have forged the 'letter' and verified it using an email address she created herself. Maureen Slough with her daughter Megan News in 90 Seconds - August 6th Pegasos was asked further questions by the Irish Independent as to why it did not ring Ms Royal, and whether it sought a mental health history for Ms Slough before her death. The Pegasos group responded that Ms Slough went through an extensive assessment process leading up to her death, including an independent psychiatric evaluation confirming she was of sound mind. Her brother Philip, a UK solicitor, has now written to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in the UK, asking it to investigate the matter with Swiss authorities. In his letter, he said Pegasos did not rigorously follow its own policy to inform a family. He said while he understands Ms Slough represented to the clinic that this had been done by the letter purportedly written by Ms Royal, the clinic only sought confirmation through an email provided by Ms Slough. 'I am working on the assumption that my sister created this email and the clinic's procedures were woefully inadequate in verification,' he wrote. 'The Pegasos clinic has faced numerous criticisms in the UK for their practices with British nationals' 'It appears my sister provided Pegasos with letters of complaint to medical authorities in Éire in respect of bogus medical conditions, and that these documents were considered by Pegasos in support of her application. 'While I understand that Swiss law permits assisted dying, the Pegasos clinic has faced numerous criticisms in the UK for their practices with British nationals, and the circumstances in which my sister took her life are highly questionable.' In March, the BBC ran a report saying the Pegasos clinic allegedly helped a Welsh woman named Anne (51) end her life in January without informing her family, despite promising to change its practices following a previous case. It said that under similar circumstances, Alistair Hamilton (47) died in 2023, and the Pegasos clinic reportedly promised last year that it would always contact a person's family before carrying out an assisted death. However, Anne, whose death was first reported by ITV News, allegedly died without her family being informed. The BBC reported that Pegasos said it had attempted to phone and text Anne's brother John, but he insisted he had received no communication from the group. Dyfed-Powys Police in Wales told the BBC it is investigating her death. The Pegasos building Anne's family learnt of her intention to die only after goodbye letters posted to them from Switzerland arrived. Ms Royal and Ms Slough's partner, Mr Lynch, received a similar card, handwritten by her mother, in recent weeks. The grieving daughter said her mother had tried to take her own life last year following the deaths of two of her sisters, and was not in her right mind when she made her decision to go to Switzerland. Her latest granddaughter had been born just days earlier. 'They should not have allowed her to make that decision on her own. This group did not contact me, even though my mother had nominated me as next of kin. They waited until afterwards and then told me she had died listening to an Elvis Presley song,' Ms Royal said. She added that her mother had a difficult upbringing, having been brought to Ireland by her own mother and a man she had met while in a mental hospital in the UK. She said that despite years of trauma, her mother made a good life for herself and joined the civil service, being promoted to executive officer before retiring last year. Ms Royal said that her mother travelled alone to Switzerland and paid €15,000 to the Pegasos Swiss Association to facilitate her death two days later. 'I was actually talking to her that morning and she was full of life' 'She had told us she was going to Lithuania, but she had confided in two people that she had other plans, and after a series of concerned phone calls she said she would come home, but then we got the WhatsApp message to say she had died,' her daughter said. Mr Lynch said: 'I was actually talking to her that morning and she was full of life. She said she was after having her breakfast and she was going out to sit in the sun. Maybe she was heading off to that place. I still thought she was coming home.' The Pegasos group said Ms Slough went through an extensive assessment process leading up to her death, including an independent psychiatric evaluation confirming she was of sound mind. It said she was consistently forthcoming about her background and history, and provided thorough medical documentation, including from her pain-management consultant. It said she had stated repeatedly that she was in chronic pain that was unbearable to her, despite seeing the pain specialist. Pegasos logo Pegasos added that Ms Slough provided a letter from her daughter Megan, and in the letter she stated in writing that she confirmed she was fully informed regarding her mother's decision, and that she had been made fully aware of her intentions and the nature of the procedure she was seeking. It said Megan stated that she had the opportunity to discuss this matter with her mother and understood the reasons behind the decision, and the implications of her choice. Pegasos said Megan was contacted directly by email to confirm the authenticity of the letter, and that in the email, Megan confirmed that the letter was indeed hers, and that she was sorry she could not accompany her mother to Switzerland, and that she was not happy with her mother's decision but understood that she was in a great deal of pain. The letter and email are disputed by Ms Royal and Ms Slough's family. Friends of Ms Slough have been horrified by the manner of her death, and questioned everything about it, including the manner in which the Swiss group repatriates remains through the parcel post system. 'You get letters in the post, not people,' her friend Stephanie Daly said. Ms Slough's ashes have now arrived with her family and funeral arrangements are being made. If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, you can call Samaritans free on 116123 or email jo@ or call Pieta on freephone 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Brit teen told mum ‘I'm sorry, goodbye' before collapsing in her arms during fatal allergic reaction on dream hols
A BRITISH teenager told her mum "I'm sorry" after collapsing in her arms from a severe allergic reaction on holiday. Lily King, 18, from Buckinghamshire, tragically died after eating a carrot in a meal to celebrate top grades in her first year at Exeter University while on holiday in Morocco. 7 Lily King died from fatal Anaphylaxsis shock on holiday Credit: JustGiving 7 Lily King with her mum Aicha, who were on holiday in Morocco when Lily died Credit: JustGiving 7 Lily was just 18 when she died Credit: gofundme The student was diagnosed with severe allergies to fish and seafood, nuts, sesame, milk and eggs when she was two-and-a-half – and her mum Aicha had packed a whole suitcase of safe supplies. While Lily's childhood had been dominated her allergies - along with eczema and asthma - she hadn't ever needed hospital treatment until five months prior to the holiday. She had bought a burger at a music festival in Exeter and suffered anaphylaxis – the most extreme allergic reaction, where rapid swelling in the throat and tongue cause breathing difficulties and sometimes cardiac arrest. Then, on the last night of their holiday last year, Lily discovered that she had received a first for her first-year exams and wanted to celebrate - so the pair decided to go out for a meal. read more in world news FIND MICHELE Cops probe 'sighting' of Brit who vanished from sunbed as search area expands It was somewhere they had eaten before, including for Lily's 18th, and they were confident that it would pass without hitch. Upon arrival, Aicha, who is Moroccan and speaks Arabic, gave staff repeated clear instructions about her daughter's allergies. Lily herself even said in Arabic: "I don't want to be killed," Aicha told the Mail. But when the food arrived, it came with vegetables and a sauce they hadn't asked for. Lily put a small piece of carrot into her mouth, saying: "Don't be silly mum, it's just a carrot," but her tongue instantly felt itchy. She took an antihistamine and went to the bathroom, then used her EpiPen and went outside for some air. Megan McKenna blasted the Prime Minister today for 'abandoning' a vow to create an 'allergies tsar' After just 15 minutes, Lily was struggling to breathe. She used her second EpiPen and Aicha called an ambulance. Now desperate, the mum ran back into the restaurant to grab her bag of money and passports but, agonisingly, the waiter wasted vital minutes by insisting she paid the bill. When she got outside again, Lily was gasping for air and slipping out of consciousness. According to the Daily Mail, she collapsed into her mum's arms and said: "You know Mum, I love you. I'm sorry. Goodbye." With the ambulance nowhere to be seen, Lily's cousins bundled her into their car and rushed to the hospital – but she stopped breathing on the way. 7 Lily wanted to go out for the meal after finding out she had earned a first in the first-year uni exams Credit: Facebook 7 Lily's family want to raise awareness about the dangers of travelling abroad with allergies Credit: gofundme 7 Lily was eating at Maya Restaurant and Lounge, Rabat, in Morocco when her throat began to itch Credit: instagram Medics performed CPR but refused to begin further treatment until Lily's mum had written a check - further stalling the process. The desperately ill teen was eventually put on life support - but with no brain activity doctors were forced to switch it off three days later. It was found that she had already suffered a heart attack and a catatonic fit, which rendered her brain dead, before being hooked up to the machine. Reflecting on the terrible ordeal, Aicha said: "Neither the waiter nor any of the doctors spoke English. "Without Arabic, it would have been impossible to make myself understood. "It is my mother tongue and yet I still couldn't get the care Lily needed." A JustGiving page set up to raise funds for Natasha Allergy Research Foundation has racked up nearly £9,000 in donations.
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Brit, 23, left with fractured spine in 30ft plunge while working ‘dream job' at US camp as family plea to get her home
Her family need £45,000 to fly her back to the UK after her insurance refused to cover the costs HORROR FALL Brit, 23, left with fractured spine in 30ft plunge while working 'dream job' at US camp as family plea to get her home A BRITISH woman is stranded in the US with devastating injuries after plunging 30ft during a hike at a children's summer camp. Charlotte Hollins Anderton, 23, was working her dream summer job as a camp leader in Washington state when tragedy struck. Advertisement 6 Charlotte Hollins Anderton suffered horrific injuries in a 30ft fall on her dream job working as a summer camp leader in the US Credit: WNS 6 The 23-year-old is now stranded in America as her family needs £45,000 to get her home Credit: WNS 6 The young woman from Wales broke both her feet in the horror fall Credit: WNS The former York University student was leading children on an Independence Day hike when she fell 30ft – fracturing her spine, shattering both feet and suffering internal bleeding. Her family say she endured an excruciating eight-hour wait for rescue in remote terrain before being rushed to hospital. She's since undergone multiple surgeries, been treated in intensive care, and is now battling not just physical injuries, but intense emotional trauma. And as if the ordeal wasn't already harrowing enough, her family have been hit with the devastating news that her insurance provider won't pay for her medical repatriation to the UK. Advertisement In a heartfelt appeal on GoFundMe, they wrote: "Our beautiful Charlotte was tragically involved in a life changing accident whilst working as a camp leader this summer. "She has suffered a life threatening fall on the 4th July and has been hospitalised since. "Her fall resulted in spinal and foot fractures requiring multiple surgeries, internal bleeding, and admission to the intensive care unit." Now, the family are urgently trying to raise a whopping £45,000 to get Charlotte home so she can access specialist NHS care and recover surrounded by loved ones. Advertisement A source close to them said the situation has left them "shocked, scared and completely heartbroken." The fundraising page has been flooded with messages of support, and Charlotte's loved ones say they're overwhelmed by the outpouring of kindness. Brit brother & sister, 11 & 13, who drowned on Spain beach as dad tried to save them had begged for 'one last swim' They wrote: "All we want is to have her home. "Thank you all so much already for your kind words, promises of donations and support. Advertisement "It means more to us than you could imagine." Charlotte, from Abergele, North Wales, had spent last summer working at the same YMCA Camp Seymour in Gig Harbor before returning this year as a leader. It comes as a string of tragic accidents have seen young British tourists lose their lives abroad in recent weeks. Just last month, a 25-year-old holidaymaker died in hospital after falling from a supermarket car park in Ibiza. Advertisement The man plunged from the Mercadona in San Antonio on the evening of July 14. Despite being rushed to intensive care at a private hospital on the island, he sadly passed away the following day. Days earlier, Kieran Thomas, also 25, from Bangor in north Wales, died after falling from a hotel balcony in Malta in the early hours of July 11. Emergency services were called to Triq Spinola at around 4.15am and found Thomas unresponsive outside the building. Advertisement His dad, Alan Hughes, told the BBC the family had been deeply touched by the outpouring of support. He said Kieran, who had a twin brother, was working as a software engineer and had 'a promising career ahead of him.' 6 Charlotte had spent last summer working at the same YMCA Camp Seymour in Gig Harbor Credit: WNS 6 The York graduate suffered a fractured spine, two shattered feet and internal bleeding Credit: WNS Advertisement
