Why fit athletes can still have heart attacks
Atherosclerosis and Sudden Cardiac Death in Athletes.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Even super fit older athletes can have hidden clogged arteries that no one knows about until it's too late. Younger athletes usually die from heart problems they were born with. Tests like EKGs often miss the clogged arteries in older athletes.
Surprising Findings
High physical fitness does not protect against coronary atherosclerosis.
Common belief is that exercise prevents heart disease — this shows even elite athletes can develop silent, lethal plaque buildup.
Practical Takeaways
If you're over 35 and exercise regularly, ask your doctor about coronary calcium scoring — a non-invasive CT scan that detects plaque buildup.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Even super fit older athletes can have hidden clogged arteries that no one knows about until it's too late. Younger athletes usually die from heart problems they were born with. Tests like EKGs often miss the clogged arteries in older athletes.
Surprising Findings
High physical fitness does not protect against coronary atherosclerosis.
Common belief is that exercise prevents heart disease — this shows even elite athletes can develop silent, lethal plaque buildup.
Practical Takeaways
If you're over 35 and exercise regularly, ask your doctor about coronary calcium scoring — a non-invasive CT scan that detects plaque buildup.
Publication
Journal
Current problems in cardiology
Year
2025
Authors
L. Muchaili, Situmbeko Liweleya, Lukundo Siame, John Nzobokela, Boas Machacha, Elletina N. Sinamwenda, Cindy Manjesani, B. C. Mweene, B. Hamooya, S. Masenga
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Claims (6)
High levels of physical fitness do not confer complete immunity against the development of coronary atherosclerosis.
Older athletes who look healthy can still have hidden clogged arteries that suddenly cause their heart to stop, which is why we need better ways to find these problems before it's too late.
Young athletes who die suddenly during sports usually have a birth defect in their heart arteries, while older athletes die from clogged arteries — two different problems at different ages.
Standard heart tests like EKGs and treadmill tests often miss clogged arteries in older athletes, so doctors might need to use special CT scans to find these hidden problems.
To prevent athletes from dying suddenly, we need a mix of better heart tests, healthy lifestyle advice, teaching people to recognize warning signs, and having defibrillators ready at sports events.