I recently found out I have calcified artery(calcium score 24 in my LDA) I train really hard as if I had nothing, sometimes during the training I think about it, could heavy training destabilize the plaque or damage much more the artery ?
Is there anyone hear who has had a heart attack and keeptraining heavily ?
I doubt there is anyone who has had a HA or has CHD and takes part in vigorous exercise that has not had these kind of thoughts. I have previously asked my GP, a BHF nurse and also a cardiac nurse and none of them have any idea to be honest. I don't think there are any statistics for people with CHD who have expired during such activities either, so all we can do is make a decision ourselves. There are plenty of people without previously diagnosed heart disease who have died during such things, so all I would say is try and stop worrying about it, the benefit from doing it is probably far more important. It is a fact that the plaques can rupture and cause a HA, but that can happen anytime, even when we are asleep.
I completely agree with Lateguitarist.
Yes there's a risk, there's always a risk, and you wouldn't be human if you didn't occasionally dwell on that risk.
But the fact is that exercise is a key part of reducing your risk, so provided you keep your heart rate within the safe zone (which would have been calculated for you on your Cardio Rehab course), you're doing good rather than harm.
If you haven't got the safe zone heart rate number you could try telephoning one of the experienced cardio nurses on the BHF helpline. It's an age dependant number, but for example I'm in my 60's and I aim to get my heart rate up to about 130bpm during exercise, but never to exceed 155bpm. I measure the rate either by taking my own pulse, or using the built in monitor on a smart watch.
I’m 34, sometimes check my heart rate during exercise, maximum is 170
I guess I mustn’t be human! I never give it a thought.
I trained hard before my Cardiac Arrest (which happened in the gym!) and I now train hard post event and OHS, I don’t push weights as heavy as I did before, probably 60-70% but that’s my choice.
Cardio I push as hard as I can, not quite what it was pre event, but a lot closer that I ever thought it would be.
I asked coz I saw some people dieng during exercise, it’s a bullshit situation, to think or not think That’s the question.
I did die during exercise 😱
But let’s face it, worrying about it is far more likely to cause it to happen than exercise is.
How old are you, and do you have another plaque ? Or he many stent do you have ?
I’m 63, never asked about plaque so no idea! No stents but a triple bypass.
Even with bypass you run for an hour ? Ou work out with moderate weight ? How Long did you undergo surgery ?
I believe I was down for ~10hrs had bypass closed me up, then they couldn’t get heart going again, back to theatre opened up again and found a tamponade took as long as the bypass to fix it apparently.
Moderate Weights, I guess it depends on what is heavy. And I run, cycle, row for 30 mins +
I mean, in which year Didi you have bypass ?
2018
**** in L. Should have gone for a lucky dip when you came round m8.
I think most HA victims die in their sleep.
Hello mate,
That’s what happened to me - 46 yo, fit as a fiddle ultra runner and heavy gym user, had a STEMI in the gym after a plaque rupture. I wasn’t aware I had any atherosclerosis, and what I did have was minimal. I do sometimes wonder if I should have had more preventative check ups, but what’s done is done. Are you considering statins to stabilise/soften the plaque?
I had a single stent and a follow up angiogram 6 months later showed good flow through all arteries and almost zero atherosclerosis. It was very bad luck, but the rupture was caused by a combination of heavy exercise (early Monday am - most popular time for a HA apparently) and work stress. I don’t regret the hard exercise, but now recognise the importance of warming up, cooling down and creating space for quality exercise, rather than beasting myself in smaller and smaller time boxes.
Have de doctor said how long the plaque started growing ?
6 % of heart attacks happen without any permanent blockages, with minimal atherosclerosis.
Myocardial infarction non obstructive coronary artery MINOCA.
Common causes coronary vasospastic angina, microvascular dysfunction, spontaneous coronary artery dissection and a blood clot.
Then there are coronary arteries which are ectatic. Defined as 50% wider or more than "normal". Some 6% of people have them. Like me. It causes sluggish blood flow which can eddy and knock plaque off the wall. Point is there are all manner of complicated heart conditions. If you get anything in the way of symptoms, don't ignore them
Anything that effects the smooth flow of blood through any blood vessel can cause problems in our bodies.
Heart disease is indeed multifactorial. The problem can be accessing a Cardiologist with the knowledge and expertise in caring for you if you do live with a rare complex heart condition.
Similar to Jonah72, I was 42 and at the gym on the Monday morning training hard (max HR 184) without a twinge. Had a heart attack in the afternoon.
4 stents all localised in marginal artery, main arteries clear. Can still train hard, don’t worry about it at the time but I think the metalwork causes me some grief for a day or two after. I now concentrate on regular aerobic exercise without beasting it, it’s just all round more comfortable. Now and again get a bit carried away but not too often. HA was April 2020.
Did you know you had plaque in your artery ? If you know, how long was the gap between the finding and the Heart attack ?
For example, I am 34 and found out I have plaque during exam for covid, it was in jun 2020. About hard training, I asked to my doctor if I could lift as much weight as I could, he said “yes”
Another doctor said “ normal life”
Another one said “it’s not s problem” 🤷🏼♂️
No I had no idea, but three doctors have given you the same opinion.
No - we didn’t go down that road, spilt milk etc.
It’s left me with a 34% EF (which may be better now - haven’t checked for 18 months) and an ICD, but I feel pretty normal with no restrictions. Interestingly, my cardiologist has encouraged me to do “as much exercise as you are able”, which is quite a lot - 5k cross country runs every other day with some steep inclines. Long may that continue 🤞
There is a chap on YouTube hes American a big bloke doing heavey weights and cardio anyway out of the blue he had a HA about a year ago but got back on his feet and back training again hes called John meadows and goes by the YouTube name mountain dog dont let the name put you off he gives some good advice but hes obviously not medically trained but hes good good luck remember common sense and a bit of caution
John passed last week, his story isn’t a great example. RIP John
I had a heart attack 9 days doing a workout and didn't know I was having one, 2 days in hospital and 2 stents fitted. I'm 57 with a max. heart rate of 187 (pre heart attack). My exercise was fairly hard (but not silly) at the time averaging 161 when it happened (just saw my rate drop). I'm expecting to go back to full exercise, building up to it obviously, but potentially at lower rates due to the drugs. Still waiting to see a GP or anyone since coming home, spoke to my GP on the phone and they are really struggling to know what my re-hab should be being fit with a good lifestyle.
Working after heart attack
Really heavy period, post heart attack 6 weeks ago, help.
Cant get heart attack out of my head 
Just had heart attack
Does our immune system work properly, after a heart attack?
