![\"Cora\u00e7\u00e3o](\"https:\/\/www.danichristoffer.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2016\/01\/Cora\u00e7\u00e3o-Forte.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nWhen we work out or practice physical activities, our heart is grateful for that.<\/p>\n
A kiss in your heart!<\/p>\n
Since our Blog is about sports and health, why shouldn\u2019t we speak of athlete’s heart?\u00a0But is there an \u201cathlete’s heart\u201d? Can we all have an \u201cathlete’s heart\u201d? Cardiologist Dr.\u00a0Abel Magalh\u00e3es, a Blog partner, answers:<\/p>\n
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“Yes, there is an athlete’s heart. The predominantly aerobic physical training, when\u00a0intense and prolonged, generates cardiac adaptations, both structural and functional.\u00a0This cardiac remodeling, known as \u201cheart of the athlete,\u201d is an initial adaptation that\u00a0includes increasing the volume of the ventricular heart chambers and the thickening of\u00a0the ventricular wall. It is a benign type of cardiac hypertrophy “.<\/p>\n
Aerobic exercises can cause heart enlargement and, according to Dr. Magalh\u00e3es.\u00a0This situation is benign, and we must not confuse this change with another condition\u00a0called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.<\/p>\n
But he reassured us that athlete’s heart does not turn into cardiomyopathy, i.e., heart\u00a0failure.<\/p>\n
There are some sports that show the greatest magnitude of changes in the heart. They\u00a0are: rowing, canoeing, cycling and swimming.<\/p>\n
With the interruption of training, the detraining effect on cardiac morphology shows\u00a0that such changes are reversible.<\/p>\n
Thus, if you plan to start practicing some sport, see a cardiologist, and perform at least\u00a0an electrocardiogram.\u00a0For those who have been running marathons, or are bodybuilders, or practice other high\u00a0performance sports, do not be alarmed if the doctor says you have an \u201cathlete\u2019s heart\u201d.\u00a0Calm down. As well as your body’s muscles, your heart also grows, develops its\u00a0muscles, and becomes stronger.<\/p>\n