User:Lachlan Campbell

= Background =

Heart Complications In elderly endurance athletes refers to a class of diseases that impact on the normal functioning of the heart. These heart complications inlude;


 * Arterial Fibrillation (AF). The uncoordinated twitching of the heart muscle in the atrium (irregular heart beat) (1)
 * Lone Artrial Fibrillation (LAF). Similar to (AF), but an isolated attack that can last anywhere from a few hours to a week.
 * Heart fibrosis. Scaring and thickening of the heart muscle. (3)
 * Hypertrophy of the hear (figure)

Heart complications in elderly endurance athletes refers to he/she being aged over 60 years of age. Nine out of ten elderly endurance athletes have developed heart abnormalities, some cases servre and other's manageable. . Up to 50% of elderly endurance athletes who consistently train at a vigorous level can suffer from fibrosis of the heart muscle.

Non-modifiable risk factors such as age and family history, are strong predictors of an individual will be at greater risk of developing heart complications. Modifiable risk factors include; moderate-high exercise is fine the persistent vigorous exercise is problematic, inadequate rest and recovery, poor diet and obesity are two risk factors that can be well controlled.

Heart Complications in Elderly Endurance Athletes
Increasing vigorous physical activity in terms of endurance based exercise will increase the risk of developing AF, LAF, and Hypertrohpy of the heart muscle. A combination of aerobic endurance training combined with regular/adequate rest, recovery and consistent testing of potential heart abnormalities will result in;
 * Firstly increased quality of life.
 * Increased cardiovascular adaptations.
 * Increased strength and functional capacity of the heart and body
 * Decreasing fatmass or BMI.
 * Greater prospect of exercise program adherence3.

Sedentary Behaviour
Increased sedentary behaviour has been shown to increase the risk of heart complications. There are several lines of evidence for a relationship between sedentary behavior and health, including epidemiological investigations of sedentary behavior and mortality or risk of heart complications and chronic disease.