Why some fit athletes have clogged arteries
Alterations in the autonomic and haemodynamic response to prolonged high‐intensity endurance exercise in individuals with coronary artery calcification
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Low-frequency heart rate variability (HRVLF) during recovery was a stronger independent predictor of coronary artery calcification than traditional risk factors like cholesterol or smoking.
Everyone focuses on resting BP, cholesterol, or BMI—but this study says how your heart recovers after a hard workout is a better clue to hidden plaque than any standard test.
Practical Takeaways
If you're a middle-aged endurance athlete, track your heart rate variability (HRV) after hard workouts using a wearable like Whoop or Oura. A sudden drop in HRVLF could signal hidden CAC.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Low-frequency heart rate variability (HRVLF) during recovery was a stronger independent predictor of coronary artery calcification than traditional risk factors like cholesterol or smoking.
Everyone focuses on resting BP, cholesterol, or BMI—but this study says how your heart recovers after a hard workout is a better clue to hidden plaque than any standard test.
Practical Takeaways
If you're a middle-aged endurance athlete, track your heart rate variability (HRV) after hard workouts using a wearable like Whoop or Oura. A sudden drop in HRVLF could signal hidden CAC.
Publication
Journal
Experimental Physiology
Year
2024
Authors
J. Svane, T. Wiktorski, T. Eftestøl, S. Ørn
Related Content
Claims (6)
Chronic high-volume endurance exercise is associated with the development of calcified coronary artery plaque, which is biomechanically more stable and less prone to rupture than non-calcified or mixed plaque.
The bigger the rise in the bottom number of blood pressure (diastolic) during a hard race, the more likely an athlete is to have early heart artery plaque—even if their resting blood pressure is normal.
Athletes with early signs of heart artery plaque experience much higher blood pressure when pushing hard during a long bike race than athletes without plaque, meaning their hearts and blood vessels are under more strain.
When athletes with early heart artery plaque stop a hard race, their heart rate doesn’t adjust as smoothly as those without plaque, suggesting their body’s automatic control system for heart rate and blood pressure isn’t working as well.
Athletes with early heart artery plaque put more strain on their hearts during intense exercise, as shown by a higher number that combines heart rate and blood pressure—meaning their hearts are working harder than those without plaque.