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Sports and bradycardia
Last reviewed: 23.06.2024
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It is impossible to unambiguously answer the question whether it is possible to do sports with bradycardia, because sports differ sharply from each other, and the severity of bradycardia can vary dramatically. If we are talking about Olympic sports, high-performance sports, where high loads on the body prevail, the sport is focused on achieving maximum results, maximum disclosure of the physiological potential of a person, then such sports are likely to be contraindicated. With a mild degree of bradycardia, which is accompanied by a decrease in heart rate up to 50 beats per minute, and the absence of visible deterioration of the condition, a person can engage in certain sports, after prior consultation with a sports doctor. In medium and severe degrees of bradycardia, we can talk about contraindications to sports.
Thus, if you have bradycardia, it is important to be careful with sports and physical activity. Depending on the cause of the bradycardia and its severity, some types of physical activity may be more or less safe.
Here are some general guidelines:
- Consultation with yourdoctor: Before starting a new exercise program or intense training, it is important to consult with a cardiologist or sports medicine specialist. Your doctor can advise you on safe levels of physical activity and exercise.
- Monitoring your heart rate: If you have been diagnosed with bradycardia, especially if it is accompanied by symptoms such as dizziness, weakness or fainting, it is important to monitor your heart rate carefully during physical activity. If you feel unwell or notice unusual symptoms, stop exercising immediately and seek medical attention.
- Choosing low-intensity physical activity: Some low-intensity physical activities, such as walking, swimming, or yoga, may be safe for people with bradycardia. These activities can help maintain overall fitness and heart health without significantly increasing your heart rate.
- Avoidextreme exercise: Avoid exercising too intensely and for too long, especially if you have bradycardia. This can increase your risk of heart problems.
- Listen to your body: It is important to learn to listen to your body and understand its signals. If you experience symptoms of discomfort or unusual sensations while exercising, do not ignore them, but stop your workout and rest.
- Regular medical check-ups: If you have bradycardia, it is especially important to see your doctor regularly and get medical check-ups to monitor your heart and overall health.
Regardless of your activity level, it is important to discuss any questions or concerns with your doctor so that he or she can provide you with individualized guidance and recommendations for safe exercise.
In general, patients with bradycardia are not recommended to exercise. It is better to focus on health-improving physical culture, which will allow the body to enter the optimal mode of functioning and achieve normalization of the main functions of the body, including normalization of the cardiovascular system, heart rate. Health-improving directions are focused on achieving such indicators, at which the body will be in a state of optimal fitness, but not in a state of overwork, which destructively affects the body.
Is it safe to run when you have bradycardia?
The answer is obvious, you can. Bradycardia is a reduced heart rate, a slow rhythm of the heart. So any exercise that increases the heart rate is indicated. Active cardiac exercise.
Nevertheless, you should not start running on your own, you should always consult your doctor. Before you start regular jogging, it is recommended to do an electrocardiogram (ECG), or ultrasound of the heart. And on the basis of this, the doctor will make a conclusion.
Care should be taken when running. You should not run in hot weather. The optimal time for running in summertime is 5-00 - 7-00 am. It is not recommended to run for more than an hour. The load should not be extreme. It is better to run slowly, jogging. Before you start running, you need to walk some distance with a quiet step. Gradually, the speed of the step increases, then you can switch to running. People with pathologies of the CCC are recommended to purchase a fitness bracelet (or, as it is also called, "Smart Bracelet"). It is a bracelet that is normally worn on the wrist. It has various functions built into it, including heart rate measurement. You can measure your heart rate at every single minute of time by simply placing your finger on the bracelet. It is also synchronized with the phone (smartphone) with the help of special programs. Thanks to this, it is possible to conduct constant monitoring of the heart rate. The heart rate is recorded even when you are asleep.
Various statistical parameters are displayed, which can be very informative for both the patient and the attending physician. In particular, the program records heart rate every hour, creating a daily schedule. The program accumulates data and records heart rate for a week, a month, a year, and so on. You can also use the program to determine your heart rate during exercise, calculate the load parameters for different levels of training, including cardio mode. The maximum and minimum heart rate values are also recorded.
In case of a critical drop or increase in heart rate, the bracelet emits an audible signal, notifying you of the need to take appropriate measures. You can set a special mode, in which the bracelet itself calls an ambulance, in automatic mode, in case of critical, life-threatening indicators.
Bradycardia and swimming
Bradycardia is not a contraindication to swimming. Swimming is an excellent way to train the cardiovascular system, in which there is an active training of the chest, heart, internal organs. With the help of water, there is virtually no chance of injury to muscles, vessels, overload. Water immediately relieves fatigue and overstrain. In addition, the water itself is a recreational resource, which has an additional therapeutic and restorative effect on the body. It is recommended to engage in swimming in a specially equipped pool under the supervision of a trainer who will help to choose a special training regimen taking into account your disease. Also for people with bradycardia swimming can be combined with aqua aerobics, in which under the control of a trainer perform special exercises in the water. Classes can be held both in group and individual mode.