If you are about to start exercising... put your heart to the test!

"One of my patients, a young man accustomed to running marathons, complained that his performance had dropped significantly. For a few months, he felt tired when starting to run, and a few days before coming to the consultation, he experienced chest pain just by walking a bit or climbing stairs."

Dr. Andrés Glenny Faggi, a specialist in Cardiology with extensive experience in Sports Medicine, explains that this case is a significant indicator that something is not functioning as it should.

Prevention was crucial for this patient, as the issue was detected and resolved in time.

And what happens when someone who is not accustomed to exercise decides to start practicing a sport? For Dr. Andrés Glenny Faggi, it is essential to start on the right foot, knowing that the heart is functioning correctly and won't give us any surprises.

"The most basic step before starting to exercise is to have a clear understanding of the person's family history and to perform the most elementary test, which is an electrocardiogram. This helps rule out any murmurs or other conditions that could worsen with physical effort."

With this information, the prospective athlete can be encouraged to begin their activity, always using common sense as a guide.

For those who already exercise regularly, an echocardiogram can be performed. "In this test," explains the doctor, "we can determine if the heart is larger or smaller than normal, if there is any partial valve obstruction, or if any part contracts abnormally."

When we talk about habitual athletes or competitors, it is necessary to add a stress test to rule out arrhythmias or cardiac distress. According to Dr. Andrés Glenny Faggi, an additional test with oxygen consumption can also determine the patient's physical condition, although not the risks they may face during sports practice.

These are straightforward tests that can be done in an afternoon.

"For a young person who regularly exercises but does not compete, an electrocardiogram would suffice. For someone planning to compete, we need to know a bit more, so we recommend at least an echocardiogram and a stress test."

The risks of not undergoing these tests include silent pathologies, such as partially obstructed arteries or coronary defects, which can worsen with sports practice. Moreover, these tests can help prevent sudden death, which can affect both a person who never exercises and a football player who collapses on the field, despite passing many checks.

"In general," explains the doctor, "for individuals without personal or family history, it is necessary to undergo an electrocardiogram every year and an echocardiogram every five years, and, of course, pay attention to the body's signals."

In other words:

If your performance changes when exercising, what you could do before, you can't do now.

If you experience pressure in the chest, neck, or jaw, not necessarily pain, but discomfort that stops once physical effort is over.

If you experience loss of consciousness or fainting, considering that exercise raises blood pressure, not the other way around.

If you experience shortness of breath...

It is essential to undergo the relevant tests at a specialized center.

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