Latest news with #cardiachealth
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Doctors sound alarm over massive spike in Americans suddenly dropping dead from unexplained heart attacks
Americans are dropping dead from heart attacks at home at alarming rates, doctors warn. Researchers at Mass General Brigham, a Harvard-affiliated hospital, found that heart-related deaths gone up to 17 percent in the years following the Covid pandemic. And while the exact number is unknown, in many of these cases heart attacks have been at home, despite deaths in hospitals decreasing. This suggests patients are being 'missed' — until it is too late. Dr Jason H Wasfy, study author and director of Outcomes Research at the at Massachusetts General Hospital, said: 'Lots of reports have shown that there have been fewer heart attacks in hospitals since 2020 — but something seems to be missing from that data. 'We now show that if you account for deaths at home, cardiac deaths are going up and have stayed up for years. Today there are a lot more people having cardiac deaths at home, which also raises the concern that people with heart disease haven't been getting the care they need since the pandemic.' The Covid virus — which is thought to have infected over 100million Americans — has been shown to cause damage to the heart and blood vessels which may be a factor. But doctors say more factors must be at play, which are still being understood — including diet and lifestyle factors. For example, a study this week found smoking marijuana or consuming edibles may raise the risk. Though the full findings have not yet been released, the experts believe the pandemic could also be linked to a mystery rise in young Americans suffering heart attacks. The study, published Friday in JAMA Network Open, looked at 127,746 death certificates from people who died in Massachusetts between January 2014 and July 2024. The average age was 77 and about 52 percent were men. The researchers then made population estimates based on US Census data from 2014 to 2023. Using death certificate and census data, the team set an expected cardiac death rate for 2020 to 2023. They found cardiac deaths were 16 percent higher than expected in 2020, 17 percent higher in 2021 and 2022 and six percent higher in 2023. The amount of monthly cardiac deaths at home also exceeded expected levels between 2020 and 2022 and in hospitals between 2020 and 2023. However, they cited additional data showing heart attack hospitalizations decreased by 20 to 34 percent after the start of the pandemic. This suggests many of these excess deaths occurred at home. The researchers wrote: 'In this population-based cohort study of Massachusetts decedents, we found cardiac deaths increased substantially starting in 2020, with exaggerated seasonal patterns and increases in deaths at home. 'While numerous other studies have found fewer admissions for cardiac emergencies in countries across the world, these studies may have missed events occurring outside of hospitals.' The researchers suggested this increase could be due to more people avoiding hospitals during the pandemic or being dismissed by doctors. CDC research from 2020, for example, found 40 percent of Americans delayed or avoided seeking medical care at the start of the pandemic, and 12 percent stayed away from emergency rooms. However, emerging research also shows the Covid virus itself may cause long-term heart issues, increasing the risk of cardiac deaths. Data shows that heart attack cases are on the rise in young Americans Covid has been linked to myocarditis, inflammation of the heart muscle, and pericarditis, inflammation of the sac-like lining surrounding the heart. With myocarditis, it's thought that Covid causes the immune system to attack itself and cause inflammation of the myocardium, the heart's muscle. This same mechanism has been linked to pericarditis. While most cases are mild, in rare instances, myocarditis can damage the heart and make it difficult for it to pump blood, eventually leading to heart failure, heart attack, and stroke. In cases as rare as one in 200,000, the mRNA in Covid vaccines may trigger a similar immune response and cause myocarditis or pericarditis. Covid-induced inflammation also alters the heart's electrical signals, leading to irregular heartbeats called arrhythmias. Research released this week also pointed to smoking weed or taking edibles at least three times a week as a potential cause of heart attacks. That team found endothelial cells, which line the blood vessels and regulate blood flow, released less nitric oxide in people who regularly smoked marijuana or took edibles. Nitric oxide helps blood vessels dilate and deliver vital oxygen throughout the body. This impaired function affects the blood vessels' ability to dilate, increasing the risk of atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes. Dr John Hsu, senior study author of the new study and director of the Program for Clinical Economics and Policy Analysis at Mass General, said: 'Healthcare systems around the world have experienced multiple shocks since 2020. Our findings suggest that both patient choices about seeking care and outcomes after experiencing a cardiac emergency also have changed. 'Had we not examined mortality using death certificate data, the increases in population cardiac mortality could have gone unnoticed.' There were several limitations to the study, including the lack of data on the causes leading to cardiac death. It's unclear when the full findings will be released. The study was partially funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Forbes
4 days ago
- Health
- Forbes
Twins' Doctor Must Face Player Malpractice Claim Due To Florida Workers' Comp Exception
Photo byRyan Costello was a promising young baseball player. After being drafted in the 31st round of the 2017 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft by the Seattle Mariners, and later traded to the Minnesota Twins, he worked his way through the clubs' A and AA affiliates. Sadly, his career was cut short when he was found dead in his hotel room in November 2019 while in New Zealand preparing to participate in the Australian Baseball League. In an ongoing lawsuit in Florida state court, Costello's family alleges that malpractice by Dr. David Olson, a Twins' team doctor, led to Costello's death. The lawsuit has pushed forward on some close legal calls. A Missed Diagnosis According to their December 2021 complaint, Costello's parents allege that as part of a 2019 spring training physical, an electrocardiogram (EKG) revealed that Costello had cardiac abnormalities. Further, Costello's parents claim that Costello should have undergone more testing before being allowed to participate in any strenuous activities. Nevertheless, Dr. Olson allegedly marked Costello's health report as 'Normal' with 'No Further Action Necessary,' clearing Costello to return to spring training. Costello's parents claim that the abnormalities were later determined to be Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, 'a cardiac condition that is treatable but that can make vigorous physical activity dangerous and potentially fatal.' Indeed, Costello's death was apparently caused by a cardiac arrythmia, a condition connected with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Evading Arbitration Dr. Olson first moved to compel the action to arbitration according to the arbitration provision in the Major League Agreement (MLA), also known as the Major League Constitution. The MLA was incorporated by reference into Costello's minor league player contract. Before going further, it is important to understand the context of this arbitration provision. MLB players have long been unionized and, as a result, negotiate collective bargaining agreements governing the terms and conditions of their employment, including relevant arbitration clauses. Minor league players did not unionize until 2022 and did not have a collective bargaining agreement until 2023. Consequently, prior to that point, minor league players were subject to the terms unilaterally imposed by MLB, its major league clubs, and their minor league affiliates. Some of those terms, like the arbitration provision, are included in the MLA, which is simply an agreement among the 30 MLB clubs. The arbitration provision at issue stated as follows: 'All disputes and controversies related in any way to professional baseball between Clubs or between a Club(s) and any Major League Baseball entity(ies) (including in each case, without limitation, their owners, officers, directors, employees and players), other than those whose resolution is expressly provided for by another means in this Constitution, the Major League Rules, the Basic Agreement with the Major League Baseball Players Association, or the collective bargaining agreement with any representative of the Major League umpires, shall be submitted to the Commissioner, as arbitrator, who, after hearing, shall have the sole and exclusive right to decide such disputes and controversies and whose decision shall be final and unappealable.' Major League Constitution, Art. VI, Sec. 1. Consequently, as eventually explained by the District Court of Appeal of Florida, 'the arbitration provision applies to disputes that are related in any way to professional baseball and that are between either: (1) two or more Clubs; or (2) one or more Club(s) and one or more Major League Baseball entity(ies).' Importantly, the court reiterated that '[b] The trial court granted Dr. Olson's motion to compel, relying on Wolf v. Rawlings Sporting Goods, a 2010 case in which the Southern District of New York, applying the same arbitration provision, also granted a motion to compel arbitration. In Wolf, a former minor leaguer sued MLB, Minor League Baseball and a variety of other parties after his skull was fractured by a pitch that he said was the result of a defective helmet. In a December 8, 2023 decision, the District Court of Appeal of Florida, Sixth District, disagreed and reversed. In its reading, the present action 'is a dispute between a player of a Club and an employee of the same Club.' It is an 'intra-Club dispute' and such disputes are not within the scope of the arbitration provision. The court also differentiated Wolf, asserting that the claims there 'plainly fell within the scope of the arbitration provision.' Evading Workers' Compensation Law Following the case's remand back to the trial court, Dr. Olson argued that the Costellos' claims were barred by workers' compensation laws, which generally provide the exclusive avenue for resolving disputes over workplace injuries, including deaths. Workers' compensation laws also generally bar lawsuits against coworkers. Instead, the injured worker is intended to be fully compensated by the workers' compensation insurance system. As an initial matter, Dr. Olson's argument hinged on a surprising fact – that he was a co-employee of Costello. While athletic trainers are typically employees of professional sports clubs, doctors are usually independent contractors. Indeed, in several cases brought by players, athletic trainers have successfully asserted the workers' compensation defense while doctors have not (see chapters 2 and 3 of this report for discussion of such litigation). In a March 11, 2025 decision, the court denied Dr. Olson's motion for summary judgment based on the workers' compensation defense. The result turned on the application of Florida rather than Minnesota law. The court determined that Florida law – where Dr. Olson examined Costello – should apply. Florida's workers' compensation law, however, does not cover professional athletes. In other words, because professional athletes cannot be compensated by the workers' compensation system, they (or, in this case, their estate representatives) are not barred from bringing claims against their employers or co-employees arising out of workplace injuries. Dr. Olson has appealed the court's decision, which has resulted in a stay of the proceedings until an appellate decision is rendered. If the appeal is unsuccessful, expect Dr. Olson and his insurer to seek a settlement rather than face the exorbitant amounts often awarded to professional athletes by juries in medical malpractice cases.
The Independent
21-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Scientists raise alarm over sudden deaths among professional body builders
Male bodybuilders are facing a high risk of sudden death from heart problems, scientists warn in a new study. The research, published on Wednesday in the European Heart Journal, highlights the health risks associated with professional bodybuilding and calls for greater awareness and preventive strategies within this community. Sudden cardiac death is when someone dies unexpectedly due to a heart problem and is generally rare among young individuals. However, the new study found that the condition kills an unusually high proportion of male bodybuilders, including young ones, with professional ones at the highest risk. In the study, an international team of researchers looked for reports of deaths among 20,286 male bodybuilders who had competed in at least one bodybuilding event between 2005 and 2020, and had these reports verified by doctors. They particularly looked for reports of deaths of any of these named competitors in five different languages across different web sources, including official media reports, social media, bodybuilding forums and blogs. Reported deaths were then cross-referenced using multiple sources and verified and analysed by doctors to establish the cause of death. Overall, researchers found 121 deaths among the over 20,000 professional bodybuilders, with the average age at death of 45 years. Cardiac death accounted for nearly 40 per cent of these 121 mortalities, according to the study. Professional bodybuilders experienced a fivefold greater risk of cardiac death compared to amateurs, scientists found. Autopsy reports of some of the deceased bodybuilders that were available showed signs of thickening or enlargement of the heart and coronary artery disease. Some also seemed to have abused anabolic substances, researchers found. 'Bodybuilding involves several practices that could have an impact on health, such as extreme strength training, rapid weight loss strategies including severe dietary restrictions and dehydration, as well as the widespread use of different performance-enhancing substances,' study co-author Marco Vecchiato said. These practices place significant strain on the heart and may lead to structural changes over time, researchers warned. 'Professional athletes had a markedly higher incidence of sudden cardiac death, suggesting that the level of competition might contribute to this increased risk,' Dr Vecchiato said. 'The risk may be greater for professional bodybuilders because they are more likely to engage intensively in these practices over prolonged periods and may experience higher competitive pressure to achieve extreme physiques,' he explained. Scientists call for proactive heart screening and counselling among bodybuilders, 'even in young and apparently healthy athletes'. 'For bodybuilders, the message is clear: while striving for physical excellence is admirable, the pursuit of extreme body transformation at any cost can carry significant health risks, particularly for the heart,' Dr Vecchiato said. 'Awareness of these risks should encourage safer training practices, improved medical supervision, and a different cultural approach that firmly rejects the use of performance-enhancing substances,' he said. The findings highlight the need for a cultural shift in bodybuilding, including stronger anti-doping measures and education campaigns about the risks of drug abuse. About 15 per cent of the 121 deaths assessed in the study were categorised as 'sudden traumatic deaths', including car crashes, suicides, murders and overdoses. 'These findings underline the need to address the psychological impact of bodybuilding culture,' scientists concluded.
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Bodybuilders face high risk of sudden cardiac death, especially those who compete professionally, study finds
Pumping iron could leave you at greater risk of suddenly falling to your death, a major study of 20,000 bodybuilders has revealed. Researchers found those who had built extreme levels of muscle over their lifetime were twice as likely to die from sudden cardiac death, compared to the general population. Meanwhile, those who took part in regular bodybuilding competitions such as 'Mr Olympia' titleholders like Arnold Schwarzenegger, saw the risk of shock death increase five-fold, compared to their amateur counterparts. Alarmingly, some 40 per cent of the deaths among all bodybuilders studied were sudden and heart-related. The authors suggested their figures could be an underestimation, as many deaths were listed as ' unknown'. Dr Marco Vecchiato, an expert in sports medicine from the University of Padova and author of the study, said analysis of autopsy reports suggested a combination of factors were to blame. 'Bodybuilding involves several practices that could have an impact on health, such as extreme strength training, rapid weight loss strategies including severe dietary restrictions and dehydration.' He also flagged the dangers of the 'widespread use of different performance-enhancing substances'. 'These approaches can place significant strain on the cardiovascular system, increase the risk of irregular heart rhythm, and may lead to structural heart changes over time.' Previous studies have suggested up to three in four bodybuilders have used performance enhancing drugs, such as steroids—known to place extra strain on the heart. 'While striving for physical excellence is admirable, the pursuit of extreme body transformation at any cost can carry significant health risks, particularly for the heart,' said Dr Vecchiato. 'Awareness of these risks should encourage safer training practices, improved medical supervision, and a different cultural approach that firmly rejects the use of performance enhancing substances.' He also encouraged stronger anti-doping rules for competitions, as well as campaigns among the sporting community about the hazards of using performance-enhancing substances. Dr Vecchiato added the research was a reminder that no matter how healthy someone looked, they could be engaging in behaviour that puts them at risk. 'The research challenges the idea that appearance alone is an indicator of health and highlights the hidden risks that can exist behind even the most sculpted physiques,' he said. However, he added the findings should not be taken as evidence that bodybuilding, or any other type of fitness, was inherently harmful. 'Regular physical activity and strength training can be extremely beneficial for health, quality of life and mortality risk.' A sudden cardiac death isn't a specific medical condition but rather a description of unexpected demise due to a hidden heart issue. This could be a sudden heart attack with no prior symptoms or a congenital heart defect that had gone undetected since someone was born. The impact of steroids on bodybuilders and gym goers was recently highlighted by the case of 32-year-old Zak Wilkinson. Mr Wilkinson, like a growing number of young men, turned to steroids, which mimic the role of the natural hormone testosterone, to boost his muscle growth. But this came at massive cost to his health, and he started having seizures, vomiting and sweating profusely and at one point needed to be put in an induced coma. Medics have told the father-of-one he likely suffer complications for the rest of his days. Anabolic-androgenic steroids are the most common type of image and performance enhancing drug. They are typically injected directly into the muscle, though can also be taken orally in tablet form or even as a cream. Common side effects include severe acne, kidney failure, high cholesterol and even stroke. Another finding of the new study was that a significant number of fatalities among bodybuilders were what researchers classified 'sudden traumatic deaths'. This included incidents like car crashes, suicides, murders and overdoses. Dr Vecchiato said this data suggested there was need for greater mental health awareness and support among the bodybuilding community. 'These findings underline the need to address the psychological impact of bodybuilding culture,' he said. 'These mental health challenges, sometimes worsen with substance abuse and can elevate the risk of impulsive or self-destructive behaviours.' In the study, published in the European Heart Journal, researchers examined the records of 20,286 bodybuilders who had been active in at least one official event between 2005 and 2020. After analysing the data, they found a total of 121 athletes had died, with an average age at death of 45. The team are now planning a similar study on female bodybuilders to examine if they also experience an increased risk of sudden cardiac death.
The Sun
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Big Brother star diagnosed with ‘silent killer' condition – leaving her ‘crying and screaming'
A FORMER Big Brother contestant has opened up on being diagnosed with a "silent killer" condition that she described as her "personal idea of hell". Harry Amelia Martin, 32, took part in the then-Channel 5 series in 2015 and became one of the series' most talked-about housemates thanks to her romance with co-star Nick Henderson and regularly strolling around the abode topless. 4 4 4 Now, she has told how her life was "ground to a halt" after receiving some unsettling news during a routine echocardiogram. In a lengthy Instagram post, she revealed that it had uncovered a condition she described as a "silent killer" and "one of the leading causes of sudden cardiac death." The former model shared a video clip of her throughout various stages of her treatment as she opened up to her fans on what had been going on. Harry Amelia said: "The truth is, during a routine echocardiogram (some subtypes of EDS can affect your heart valves) it uncovered a condition that is one of the leading causes of sudden cardiac death. "When symptoms are present, they often mimic POTS , but unlike this genetic fault, POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndromeis) relatively harmless - just quite exhausting, but it doesn't kill you! "Overnight, my life ground to a complete halt, I was stuck in my own personal idea of hell, which felt like Groundhog Day, day after day doing nothing but the same things." The former reality TV star continued: "I couldn't relax. I couldn't enjoy myself. "I became an anxious mess as I didn't know what symptoms were POTS, & what were this 'silent killer' - responsible for 5–10% of sudden deaths in people under the age of 65, with the average age being just 30 years old. "Naturally, I have lost my s*** Harry style on multiple occasions & probably driven everyone close to me to despair. "There's been a lot of panic attacks, frustrated screaming, crying, bed rotting, & I think I've thrown myself more pity parties in recent months than I have in my whole life - & as you all know, my life has often been quite a colourful ride." Harry, who shares a child with her Big Brother co-star ex, admitted that she was still awaiting further tests and had been aiming to reduce stress at all possible opportunities. The star ended her post by saying: "Hopefully, with the right treatment plan I'll be reborn & flourishing again soon, until then I'm staying positive & grateful for my little life of Hunter, my animals & my chosen family. "That alongside my amazing other half have pulled me out the darkness more times than I care to count over the past few months." Following her brave and emotional post, Harry was inundated with messages of support from her followers. What is POTS? According to the NHS, Postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS) is when "your heart rate increases very quickly after getting up from sitting or lying down, often making you feel dizzy or lightheaded." Guidance suggests that it can affect everyone differently, ranging from mild symptoms to those causing an unavoidable impact on everyday life. Some of the symptoms listed by the NHS include: dizziness or lightheadedness noticeable heartbeats (heart palpitations) chest pain shortness of breath shaking and sweating fainting or nearly fainting Whilst, more other serious symptoms could include: problems with your stomach or digestion, such as feeling sick, being sick, diarrhoea, constipation, bloating and tummy pain headaches and problems with your sight, such as blurred vision or tunnel vision your hands and feet looking purple – this may be more difficult to see if you have brown or black skin weakness and extreme tiredness (fatigue), not being able to do much exercise, and sleeping badly problems with thinking, memory and concentration (brain fog) Source: NHS 4
