Forums >Health and Nutrition>Chest Pains with Heavy Exertion
Curious...how many have actually felt pains in the heart by pushing it too hard. I have on occasion, but it's not something that just happens, usually it's accompanied by day-after-day of hitting it too hard and usually when I'm also feeling sick/over-trained.
I've never felt it when I'm totally healthy, even when I know I've gone into the Red too often.
It's not a good feeling and I do wonder if I'm causing scarring of the heart. These are the times I have to remind myself of the importance of recovery runs and no sprinting.
P.S. Just to emphasize, this doesn't happen when I'm pushing myself a little too hard, it only happens when I really 'peg it' in a very strong sprint.
How do you know the source of your pain was the heart? Not trying to be a jerk, but chest pain can come from multiple sources and it's almost totally impossible to tell if it's from your heart or something else without tests. That's why Dr's do tests before just jumping to surgery to correct the 'heart" problem.
Again, sorry if I come across as a jerk, but I work in the medical field and it's always frustrating to have patients tell me to treat their "heart pain" when they have a pulled muscle or some other problem.
Half Fanatic #846
Wow, if I had what I thought might be 'heart pain', I'd either be on the phone to the Dr., or maybe even on the way to ER...but you might be a lot younger than I am.
Three months ago I had unusual symptoms in my chest, had it checked right away, and was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. But, that was a "sudden onset". Maybe you've been having indigestion. Or, maybe not. I hope it's nothing!!
"I don't always roll a joint, but when I do, it's usually my ankle" - unk. "Frankly autocorrect, I'm getting a bit tired of your shirt". I ran half my last race on my left foot!
How do you know the source of your pain was the heart? Not trying to be a jerk, but chest pain can come from multiple sources and it's almost totally impossible to tell if it's from your heart or something else without tests. That's why Dr's do tests before just jumping to surgery to correct the 'heart" problem. Again, sorry if I come across as a jerk, but I work in the medical field and it's always frustrating to have patients tell me to treat their "heart pain" when they have a pulled muscle or some other problem.
No, you're absolutely right, I don't know, just feels that way.
I was just curious if anyone else felt these pains in that area after very tough back-to-back sprints. I'm not worried about "heart issues", just curious.
I remember reading/hearing about sprinters that could sprint so hard, that they were on the verge of passing out. I've never done that, but I have sprinted so hard (again back-to-back) and not only felt a little something in my chest area, but also getting very light-headed and woozy. I know this is NOT a good thing and I'm working on easing it up a bit, but I just love sprinting.
I guess I'm just curious to hear from others that love to sprint.
Three months ago I had unusual symptoms in my chest, had it checked right away, and was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. But, that was a "sudden onset".
If you don't mind sharing, how old are you and how long have you been involved in endurance sports? The reason I'm interested is that there are claims that endurance athletes are more at risk for A-Fib then the average person.
No, you're absolutely right, I don't know, just feels that way. I was just curious if anyone else felt these pains in that area after very tough back-to-back sprints. I'm not worried about "heart issues", just curious. I remember reading/hearing about sprinters that could sprint so hard, that they were on the verge of passing out. I've never done that, but I have sprinted so hard (again back-to-back) and not only felt a little something in my chest area, but also getting very light-headed and woozy. I know this is NOT a good thing and I'm working on easing it up a bit, but I just love sprinting. I guess I'm just curious to hear from others that love to sprint.
If you wear a HR monitor look at your data from when you are sprinting feel lightheaded, that should be your maximum heart rate. The reason you're feeling woozy is because the heart can't supply anymore blood to the body and most of it's going to your legs not your brain. I used to do that on hill climbs when I was trying to build power on the bike. Lovely feeling . For some reason I can't do that while running.
As far as feeling chest discomfort, yea I would feel some. Theoretically it's possible that your heart isn't getting quite enough blood at those times and like any other muscle it will hurt. At the same time it can also come from your lungs working overtime as well or upper body tensing up. Most of the times I would start to back off when I felt woozy simply because I didn't see any reason that it would really help my training other than establishing where my maximum HR was.
King of PhotoShop
Pedaling, just to be on the safe side, go to your dr. and tell him or her what you shared here. This is not the kind of symptom that will be well-analyzed in a running forum. Let us know what you learn. Spareribs
Not at all - I began running eleven years ago at 58 and was reasonably active before that. The tech that recently administered an upper chest/heart ultrasound (with 23 years experience) stated that "everyone will get A-Fib if they live long enough". Do most people live 'long enough'? Maybe. My mother had this, also. You probably can't take anything away from this little bit of info. I was cleared to continue running, the only difference being that I'm now on medication.
My uneducated guess is that A-Fib is a product of age more than anything else, and that exercise probably doesn't play a significant causal or preventive role. The ultrasound looked normal.
Not at all - I began running eleven years ago at 58 and was reasonably active before that. The tech that recently administered an upper chest/heart ultrasound (with 23 years experience) stated that "everyone will get A-Fib if they live long enough". Do most people live 'long enough'? Maybe. My mother had this, also. You probably can't take anything away from this little bit of info. I was cleared to continue running, the only difference being that I'm now on medication. My uneducated guess is that A-Fib is a product of age more than anything else, and that exercise probably doesn't play a significant causal or preventive role. The ultrasound looked normal.
Doesn't sound like you fit the profile for what I'll call "athletic induced A-Fib". Basically some people think that endurance athletes that are always redlining their HR or going for hours at a time, end up remodeling the heart muscle in such a way that causes the conduction system to become screwed up, often resulting in A-Fib. In my little part of the medical field I see patients with all sorts of heart rhythm disturbances, and have never seen a active athlete with A-Fib. I think you are right that it's a product of age, however I don't agree with the tech that everyone will get it if they live long enough. I know too many people that lived into their 90s that never had any heart problems.
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Are we really having this conversation again?
*ALL* chest pain is cardiac until proven otherwise. Ignore it at your own peril.
Go see your health care provider.
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Regarding endurance athletes and a fib just do a google search "enWdurance athletes and atrial fibrillation" and you will find a slew of articles regarding the higher incidence.
I had a bout of a fib at age 55 requiring electro conversion. Major endurance events lifetime including cycling, Nordic skiing, and ultra running.
there are very good ablation specialists who deal almost exclusively with endurance athletes because the prevalence of a fib is so high.