What causes heart attacks among cyclists

[Sitting@89]

As I am sure many of you have heard two cyclists passed on today at the CTCT, the one was due to injuries sustained in a crash, the other from a heart attack on the Smitswinkel climb.

 

Now for my question, which demographic of rider is so prone to heart attacks that almost every year there are two or three deaths at major races.

 

Is it the over ambitious out of shape crowd, or reasonably fit weekend warriors, pushing to hard for some major milestones ie sub 3 pb's?

[Tristand]

Anyone can have some subtle heart issue.

Best to just go for an ECG, it is such a simple and cheap test that can save your life.

[Boerklong]

My uninformed opinion...

I think the body just gives in.

Anyone can try and smash a sub 3 CTCT but you will cramp/bonk before you die.

 

The body is an amazing and complex unit.

Xxx

35 000 went out on personal bests today.

Genetics and luck...?

I went so hard at the end that I was scared to get off my bike after the finish line.

[porqui]

Sometimes we do damage to our hearts without realizing it.

 

A big no-no is cycling when we have flu or a cold - don't do it - stay off the bike and recover.

The damage you do you don't see or feel but can catch up on you unexpectedly.

 

How often do you go for a proper medical checkup?

 

Yah I know we are men !!

[lechatnoir]

Riding with a virus can be bad news. It can cause heart muscle issues.

[Boerklong]

I like to think we come out with a "lifetime warranty"

Go for all the check ups.

Keeps the maintenance plan in check

[Thor Buttox]

Someone I know passed away from a heart condition while representing SA. This was in the early 90's. He was in his early 20's and was racing while sick. Not sure of that correlation w.r.t the heart condition but it couldn't have helped. But it's not just a demographic - young people can have issues too.

[Andreas_187]

I'm sure I read a doctor on the hub telling us not to run/ride after taking anti inflammatory tablets.

If I remember correctly he was saying numerous people who had a heart attack at the comrades was due to this.

[Skubarra]

I ended up in hospital few years back with damaged heart muscles after racing with a very minor cold. I think the virus / illness was more severe than what the (minor cold) symptoms let on because I would not have been deliberately irresponsible. Scary thing was that there were zero warning signs - the discomfort only came after the race was done.

 

Nowadays I cringe everytime when someone on the hub posts how they raced despite their cold, you don't realise how irresponsible that is until you lie in the heart unit surrounded by old & fat people...  

[Thor Buttox]

... until you lie in the heart unit surrounded by old & fat people...

Yo, bruvva, making fun of those of us who were fit once is a bit close to the bone. (Much like the lamb shank I had on the weekend...)

[Schnoodle]

When you put a R800 tyre on your bike and you get a sidewall cut

[Mamil]

I passed a guy who was coughing with a big phlegmy bark as he laboured along. Midfle aged, overweight, not breathing well ... I am somewhat germ phobic so imagining all those nasties fkying along in his slip, I gave him a wide berth and stood up to get away as quickly as I could.

[Capricorn]

I ended up in hospital few years back with damaged heart muscles after racing with a very minor cold. I think the virus / illness was more severe than what the (minor cold) symptoms let on because I would not have been deliberately irresponsible. Scary thing was that there were zero warning signs - the discomfort only came after the race was done.

 

Nowadays I cringe everytime when someone on the hub posts how they raced despite their cold, you don't realise how irresponsible that is until you lie in the heart unit surrounded by old & fat people...  

 

inclusion of stuff like Flugon in the race pack doesn't help. Masking the symptoms doesn't solve the problem. Frankly, i think its irresponsible marketeering to put that sort of thing in an endurance event race pack.

[fanievb]

I'm sure I read a doctor on the hub telling us not to run/ride after taking anti inflammatory tablets.

If I remember correctly he was saying numerous people who had a heart attack at the comrades was due to this.

nsaid causes kidney issues

[Vetseun]

Preparation.

Lots of fun riders riding an event like the Argus. Possibly the only event that they do during the year. After that the Dogma gets hung up in the garage again. Any event should be shown respect, arrive prepared.

I know people who turn the Argus into one massive piss up. They arrive drunk, they ride drunk and the get horribly drunk afterwards. On Monday they talk about how epic the weekend was. IMO that is pretty effed up.

This should be a celebration of being healthy, fit and doing your best.

[Sammajoor]

Apparently the rider who passed away from a heart attack was 69.