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Can Regular Exercises Help In Hypertrophy?
Question: can over exercise cause enlarged heart chamber. my son 46yrs regularly cycles 100 to 150 miles in a single day at weekend. 50 miles on other days, on top of work. He also swims 50 to 60 lengths of an Olympic size pool per day
Brief Answer:
can cause enlargement but this is normally good
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Hypertrophy of the heart is an increase in the muscle mass of the heart which would lead to increase size of one or more of the chambers.
Regular aerobic exercise is thought to be associated with certain possible heart adaptations: (1) hypertrophy
(2)enhanced aerobic capacity of the heart - this means that there is increased ability to take up and use oxygen effectively and
(3)diastolic cardiac enlargement- widened heart during diastole which is the time when the heart relaxes to take up blood before it pumps it out.
In addition to the improved blood supply to the heart and ability to pump more effectively , the athletic heart is also able to pump out more blood usually at a lower heart rate.
In most athletes, the heart changes that can occur are beneficial.
If he was assessed thoroughly and no problems seen then he should be cleared to continue. If he is still unsure then he can see a cardiologist for clearance.
Summary: (1) yes, increased size of the heart can occur in persons who exercise regularly, it is part of the body's compensatory mechanism
(2)in majority of athletes, the changes are beneficial and cause the heart to work more effectively
can cause enlargement but this is normally good
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Hypertrophy of the heart is an increase in the muscle mass of the heart which would lead to increase size of one or more of the chambers.
Regular aerobic exercise is thought to be associated with certain possible heart adaptations: (1) hypertrophy
(2)enhanced aerobic capacity of the heart - this means that there is increased ability to take up and use oxygen effectively and
(3)diastolic cardiac enlargement- widened heart during diastole which is the time when the heart relaxes to take up blood before it pumps it out.
In addition to the improved blood supply to the heart and ability to pump more effectively , the athletic heart is also able to pump out more blood usually at a lower heart rate.
In most athletes, the heart changes that can occur are beneficial.
If he was assessed thoroughly and no problems seen then he should be cleared to continue. If he is still unsure then he can see a cardiologist for clearance.
Summary: (1) yes, increased size of the heart can occur in persons who exercise regularly, it is part of the body's compensatory mechanism
(2)in majority of athletes, the changes are beneficial and cause the heart to work more effectively
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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