the signals explained by the cardiologist

When Evan Ndicka collapsed to the ground during the Udinese-Roma match, everyone present and viewers feared the worst. Fortunately, the 24-year-old Roma defender then recovered illness on the pitch: no heart attack – as was initially feared – but a chest pain probably attributable to pulmonary compression.

Unfortunately, however, in the history of sport there have been several cases of illnesses with a tragic epilogue. According to estimates reported by medical sources between one and three young athletes in apparent good condition out of 100,000 dies suddenly while playing sports. The risk of falling ill while doing physical activity concerns everyone, both amateur and professional athletes. Obviously, some categories are more at risk than others.

At Fanpage.it the Professor Daniele Andreinihead of the Clinical Cardiology and Cardiac Imaging and Sports Cardiology Operational Unit of the IRCCS Galeazzi Hospital – Sant’Ambrogio in Milan, explained what are the signs not to be underestimated and who are most at risk.

What are the most common signs that we should not underestimate?

There are at least three signs that should not be underestimated and that must attract attention when they appear. The first ever is what is defined in medical language “heart pounding sensation” or palpitation. That is, the sudden, non-progressive sensation that the heartbeat accelerates significantly. In fact, it is normal for the heart rate to increase during physical activity, but this is not the case if the acceleration occurs suddenly and reaches values ​​above the norm, even 200 beats per minute.

Likewise, an alteration in the heartbeat that becomes should not be underestimated irregular or arrhythmic. Some patients define it as a “heart attack”, there are also those who experience coughing. These two conditions represent the first symptom of an illness, also in terms of frequency with which they occur.

What does the second signal consist of?

The other symptom that should alert us is the chest pain. Here it should be specified that not all pain is worrying. For example, if you feel a temporary pain that is lightened or accentuated by touching the painful area or if it changes based on your breathing or based on your posture, in general this should not be a sign of something more serious. cardiovascular level. This is rather the symptom of a muscular pain or the consequence of inflammation or trauma to the rib cage.

More worrying, however, is the cardiovascular chest pain. This manifests itself as an oppressive or constricting pain in the central region of the chest, sometimes even lower, at the pit of the stomach (“epigastrium” in medical terms). If this sensation of “weight” is felt during physical effort and then tends to disappear at rest, then it could be the case indicator of a coronary problem. So you shouldn’t underestimate it, but you should contact your doctor or go to the emergency room.

One is missing, right?

That’s right, the third signal is missing. This symptom could potentially occur in several cardiac and vascular pathologies, namely thesudden onset of shortness of breath, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. In technical terms we talk about “dyspnea”. Here too, as we said before for the heartbeat, it is obvious that during prolonged physical activity we can feel the breathing a little tired. This is normal. Instead, what should alert us is one feeling short of breath sudden and very intense, especially if unjustified by the type of physical effort.

Let us understand better.

If I’m doing my usual jog in the park and I feel running out of air from one moment to the next it is better to delve deeper. Especially if this sensation is accompanied by a sudden loss of strength, it could be a sign of a problem with the heart or large vessels, such as the pulmonary circulation (embolism).

A fourth symptom can also be associated with these three fundamental signs: sudden fainting (syncope), even without loss of consciousness (lipothymia). Any non-accidental fall to the groundbut caused by a cardiological or circulatory problem, deserves to be investigated further.

Are we all equally at risk or are there factors that can influence?

In the healthy under 30seven among athletes at a non-competitive level, the onset symptom is almost alwaysarrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. This is because the coronary arteries in these subjects are generally in good condition, so it is rare to have an arteriosclerotic disease that leads to a heart attack.

Starting from 35/40 years of age and with advancing age, however, the risk of developing conditions that represent cardiovascular risk factors, such as diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension or high cholesterol levels, increases. Obviously the presence of these factors, even in those without heart disease, exposes them to a greater risk of experiencing illness during physical activity. Smoking is also an aggravating factor.

Who are the people most at risk?

Those who have one must pay more attention family history where there have been cases of coronary heart disease in first degree relatives and especially sudden cardiac deaths. This increases the risk significant way. However, those most at risk are certainly heart patients. This does not mean that those who fall into this category should not do physical activity regardless, indeed in certain conditions and especially under medical supervision, physical activity can also be beneficial for this type of patient.

Are these signals the same for women too?

A separate discussion should be made for women. This is a complex topic, central to the gender medicine, on which several studies are still underway to understand what the specific symptoms are in women. For the moment we know that women, with the same coronary problems, experience pain less often and have more subtle symptoms.

To conclude, are all sporting activities the same, or are some more at risk than others?

In general we can say that theaerobic activity is less risky. Endurance sports – such as jogging, cycling or even just long walks – are less risky overall, as well as bringing more benefits to those who practice them than anaerobic activities. The greatest advantages concern the lipid profile, glycemic control and the fight against hypertension. However, it is always important to contextualise: this is especially important for older athletes carry out physical activity in a controlled manneralways under the supervision of your cardiologist, and without exceeding.