Pushing your body to perform after age 35 could put your heart at risk.
Physical activity is great for your health and getting a good sweat going is generally encouraged. However, for people over age 35, participating in triathlons and other extreme activities, could be putting them at risk for potentially life-threatening cardiac events like heart attacks.
Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute scientist Dr. Saul Isserow explains that the lack of research around these master athletes is troubling. We don’t have the data that can help doctors understand and mitigate the risks.
Dr. Isserow is leading the biggest study of its kind to determine the prevalence of life risk factors and cardiovascular disease in the population to guide recommendations that might prevent cardiac events during activity.
“We’re also in need of this information because the over 35 population itself seems to be divided into two groups: one that turns a blind eye to the risk factors believing that physical activity alleviates their need to worry about things like diet or cholesterol – which is not the case – and the other group who are fearful that their activity, or their spouse’s activity, is too strenuous” says Dr. Isserow.