Hello –
I won’t be at Stinsons this weekend.
All is well. Just reevaluating my cycling goals in light of the potential negative effects of hard exercise on endurance athletes, especially when pushing the extreme limits of cardiac output. There is mounting evidence of atherosclerosis and atrial fibrous of the heart from overuse. This is not the most recent report but there are several others. I do enjoy the group riding but find that my heart rate to keep up is considerably higher (as a % of MHR) than my younger cycling companions and thus subjecting myself to greater physiological stress.
” …. any athlete can develop overuse injuries in their joints, there is concern that endurance athletes may also develop training related cardiac injury. Moderate exercise is well established as better for health than a sedentary lifestyle but vigorous exercise may prove to be harmful in some individuals.”
“Just like any other muscle, athletic activity modifies the heart in predictable ways. These changes are structural, functional and electrical.”
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-08-left-atrial-fibrosis-arrhythmias-athletes.html
The Mayo Clinic has published similar research.
Not wanting to be alarmist, of course. This study and others are mostly relevant to susceptible individuals. So, if you’re not susceptible, you’re probably okay.
Weather forecast looks good, however. For those of you riding have fun and safe cycling.
I’ll leave it to KO to send an email, or not.
Important Stuff – Check back another time
Okay, stay fit, firm, fine – always.
Contact:
– arnpriorcycling@bell.net
– Twitter a@arnpriorcycling
– IG @arnpriorcycling
– WP arnpriorcycling.blog
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.” jrt