Review article
Health risks in elite athletes – cardiology and internist aspects
Tvrtko Jukić
; Zavod za intenzivnu kardiološku skrb, KBC Sestre milosrdnice
Zdravko Babić
; Zavod za intenzivnu kardiološku skrb, KBC Sestre milosrdnice; Medicinski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu; Kineziološki fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Marjeta Mišigoj-Duraković
; Kineziološki fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Abstract
Sport undoubtedtly provides health benefits of physical activity. Nevertheless, great physical efforts of top sports can transiently, but also permanently increase the risk of developing diseases of many organic systems. Professional athletes, especially in endurance sports may develop some cardiac disease, but it is imperative that distinction is made between those diseases and physiological adjustments of the heart (i.e. athlete’s heart) to top sports. Lately, greater attention has been given to right ventricular remodelling which can lead to other health issues. In endurance sports, some supraventricular arrhythmias are also more common than in the general population. In predisposed athletes, sudden cardiac death may be a consequence of great physical efforts. Exercise-induced asthma and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction are clinical entities in which physical efforts cause bronchal hypersensitivity. They are probably caused by loss of water off the surface of respiratory mucosa. In some sports and athletic disciplines (mostly in strength sports), especially after retirement from professional sport, a greater prevalence of obesity, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome has been observed. Professional female athletes may develop menstrual cycle disorders and even female athlete triad (low energy availability, menstrual disorders and low bone mineral density). Eating disorders are also more common in athletes, usually due to adjustment of the body to a specific sport, with either losing or gaining body weight as a consequence. Excessive workout may cause exertional rhabdomyolysis, which (in its most severe form) may cause renal damage or renal failure. It has been proved that top sports (and especially endurance sports) can cause iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia. Long periods of high intensity training are thought to suppress iron absorption and the use of iron in erythropoiesis
Keywords
top sports; cardiology; internal medicine; adverse effects
Hrčak ID:
237523
URI
Publication date:
30.4.2020.
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