A new study has found that physically active middle-aged women and men have a slim chance of suffering cardiac arrest while playing sports, WebMD reported. The study was published online in the journal Circulation.
According to the American Heart Association, cardiac arrest is the unexpected loss of heart function. Scientists examined more than 1,200 cases of sudden cardiac arrest among people aged between 35 and 65. It was found that just 5 percent of attacks happened during sports activity. Scientists said that the outcome for those people was positive.
According to lead researcher Dr. Sumeet Chugh, people who have a sports-related cardiac arrest were more likely to survive than people who did not have a sports-related cardiac arrest. The risk of dying suddenly if people participate in sports is low. Chugh added that people who have a known heart problem should see their doctor before beginning any sports activity.
The findings of the study support recommendations that people should get regular exercise. For the study, the researchers examined 1,250 cases of sudden cardiac arrest among middle-aged people from the Oregon Sudden Unexpected Death Study.
Of the 5 percent of cases suffered during physical activity, more than one-quarter of cases occurred while jogging. Scientists found that cycling and basketball accounted for fewer than one in five sports-related cardiac arrests.
According to the study, more than half of people had risk factors for heart disease and more than one-third of people had symptoms of heart disease in the week before their heart stopped functioning. People who are fit were more likely to survive than those who are unfit.
Chugh said that regular physical activity helps improve heart health and decrease the risk of stroke, sudden cardiac death and heart attacks.