Does the risk of cardiac problems put you off?

[Too Tyred]

After a few recent, well publicised, examples of sportspeople collapsing while exercising, has this put anyone off getting on their bike?

I've woke up this morning to a runner in the marathon, there was another the other week too. The poor lad in Paris Roubaix was followed almost immediately by an amateur somewhere in the south of England. I'm 99% sure there has been another pro/ semi-pro recently too.

I could then move on to football, which has had a few cases recently.

The thing that gets me is that all of these people are much fitter than I am and probably much fitter than anyone on here. They all will have access to much better medical tests and assistance too. If it can happen to them, then why am I risking it happening to me everytime I push myself.

Now I'm not saying that I will stop riding because I would love cycling and the chances of it happening to me are slim (but not 0%), but it has definitely made me stop and think. What about you?

 

[Joffey]

No. If I stop riding and get fat(ter) I'll be at more risk so I keep on keeping on.

 

[ColinJ]

A 0.xx% risk of exercise killing you vs a 20+% (?) risk of a sedentary lifestyle killing you ...

It seems like an obvious choice to me!

(Just beaten by @Joffey!)

 

[vickster]

No, because they were much younger than me and I think all men

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

I sometimes wonder if I'm pushing too hard and I'll ease off - but breathing usually slows me up first.
Also I once took a Migralieve tablet and ended up being blue lighted to A&E with a pulse of 350 as it seems I've got a reaction to codeine. That blew my confidence entirely until a doc told me he'd send me to a shrink if I didn't belt up.

There's loads of things can take you out and I've come to the conclusion if I fall off me perch I'd rather it be while I'm doing something fun.
I don't want to be scared of things any more.

 

[ianrauk]

Not even the tiniest of thoughts about it.

If I keel over whilst riding my bike then I would be happy it was that rather then any other way.

 

[ColinJ]

Incidentally ... I suspect that cycling WILL eventually kill me! My heart hasn't been quite right since I was ill in 2012 (and maybe before that) but I'm not going to let it stop me. I've had miscellaneous scans, x-rays, ECGs etc. and the doctors usually point at printouts and screen displays, mutter for a while, then shrug their shoulders and ignore whatever it was that they saw.

I would rather live as a cyclist and die suddenly of cardiac arrest at (say) 75, than live a fearful life and suffer a long, drawn-out and unpleasant decline into my 80s, the way that my poor parents did.

 

[vickster]

Just make sure you have a will and life insurance if you have dependants (which ultimately goes for everyone regardless)

 

[Too Tyred]

Sensible thoughts. I didn't really expect the answers to be any different! We all love cycling afterall!

 

[ColinJ]

Just make sure you have a will and life insurance if you have dependants (which ultimately goes for everyone regardless)

I don't have any dependants and my estate would barely even cover the cost of a funeral anyway! (Not that I'll be needing a funeral because my remains will be (literally!) split between transplant donations and something for medical students to play about with ...)

 

[vickster]

I don't have any dependants and my estate would barely even cover the cost of a funeral anyway! (Not that I'll be needing a funeral because my remains will be (literally!) split between transplant donations and something for medical students to play about with ...)

Then my comment wasn’t so relevant to you

I don’t know about the OP

 

[vickster]

@Two Tired you might find this interesting

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases...iac-arrest/in-depth/sudden-death/art-20047571

Or similar but from U.K. writer

https://health.spectator.co.uk/ugo-ehiogu-why-do-fit-and-healthy-people-suffer-cardiac-arrests/

If you’re seriously concerned, you could go and have a full private cardiac health screen

https://www.rbhh-specialistcare.co....diagnostic-services-2/heart-screening-clinic/

Although bear in mind if they find anything you’d need to declare to life insurers, medical insurers, your employer, travel insurers etc

Or spend the £500+ on bike bits

 

[Drago]

I think the risk of keeling over will be significantly greater if I don't exercise.

 

[gaijintendo]

I don't take EPO, hormones, blood bags, or intravenous vitamins, so I not especially concerned.

I thought that was the unspoken aspect in these things?

 

[arch684]

I had a heart attack about 13/14 years ago,2 stents fitted to unblock artery's. I take 5 tablets a day,beta blockers etc. I was off the bike for about 8 weeks and just took it easy for awhile