A few days before the start of summer, many people start exercising again or go to the gym to lose the pounds they gained over the winter. This increase in activity largely occurs after months of a rich diet and a sedentary lifestyle. Although exercise is very beneficial for your health, experts warn against starting exercise without a medical examination represents an avoidable risk. The sports medical check-up is the tool that can and in many cases can ensure safety during training Save lives.
The numbers back up this warning. More than 90% sudden deaths In amateur runners, they can be prevented by undergoing an appropriate cardiological examination before starting the activity. Performing an electrocardiogram detects electrical changes in the heart that occur in up to eight percent of adults who exercise at high intensity. Likewise, laboratory analyzes allow the identification of cases of anemia, dehydration and metabolic disorders that occur approximately 30% of those who engage in physical activityeven in asymptomatic or apparently healthy people.
He Oscar Garciacardiologist at Ricardo Palma Clinicstates that a full review is essential before beginning or resuming training. The specialist emphasizes that the evaluation provides a comprehensive overview of the health status of both experienced athletes and beginners, which helps to avoid major complications.
“A thorough examination must include laboratory tests such as blood count, glucose, renal function tests (creatinine), lipid profile (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides), electrolytes, liver function tests (TGO/AST and TGP/ALT) and a complete urine test. In addition, a cardiac examination with electrocardiogram, stress test and… is required Doppler echocardiogram. At the end of the process, a cardiologist reviews the results in detail and prepares a report with the specific indications for each case. “These studies are essential to determine whether the person is in optimal conditions for exercising and, if necessary, to adapt the routine to their individual needs,” he explained.
Sports screening offers the opportunity to detect diseases that often go unnoticed for years. According to the Dr. Marco Antonio RomeroCardiologist at the Ricardo Palma Clinic, “This type of examination often detects dyslipidemia, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, valvular heart disease, structural heart disease or cardiovascular risk factors, diseases that occur frequently.” The patient is completely unaware of this and whose first symptom can be a serious event. The cardiac examination allows us to anticipate these problems when they have not yet manifested themselves,” said Romero.
In clinical practice, people with OverweightHypertension, diabetes, a history of smoking, dyslipidemia, people over 40 years old or those with a sedentary lifestyle, as well as those suffering from fatigue, heart palpitations or chest pain require strict monitoring before exercise. The same recommendation applies to young people and adolescents with relatives who have suffered a heart attack, sudden death or hereditary heart disease.
This is highlighted The sports medical check-up is a preventive toolwhich not only helps protect the cardiometabolic integrity of the practitioner, but also Optimize performance and facilitates the design of a routine adapted to the abilities and peculiarities of each individual. Personalization of assessment is essential: no two athletes are the same, and a tailored approach is crucial for those who want to train safely and improve their performance.
In short: the sports checkup offers the opportunity to do this identify hidden risk factorsadapt training and ensure that physical activity does not become life-threatening, but rather a reliable source of well-being. With the onset of summer and the increase in the practice of sports, experts emphasize that prior medical examination is not an option, but a fundamental and responsible necessity.
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