Individuals planning strenuous exercise advised to undergo health screening

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Cardiovascular specialist Ade Meidian Ambari has highlighted the need for health screening for people who wish to undertake intense or high-intensity exercise in order to minimise health risks.

“There have been many cases of people who were not screened, exercised, and then died. Exercise is supposed to improve fitness and reduce risk factors, but instead it became dangerous,” said Dr Ade Meidian Ambari, Sp.JP, FIH, speaking to ANTARA in Jakarta on Thursday.

“The higher the intensity of our exercise, the more we should get screened. So if you are not used to exercising but suddenly run a full marathon, what happens? A heart attack,” he said following the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Indonesian Heart Association (ASMIHA).

The Chairperson of the Central Board of the Indonesian Cardiovascular Specialists Association said that people unaccustomed to exercise should first undergo screening if they wish to exercise at moderate to intense levels, such as playing football or running a marathon.

Health checks are needed to detect risk factors, such as a family history of heart disease and complaints such as chest pain and heart palpitations.

“We can do an ECG on the patient, an exercise stress test, a heart ultrasound or blood tests and so on for screening. If everything looks good, we can start exercising,” said Dr Ade.

He noted that people who are not used to exercise have a chance of developing heart problems if they suddenly engage in intense physical activity.

“For example, someone who has never cycled then joins a cycling group - that is dangerous, it can cause a heart attack,” he said.

“We know that in athletes or people who regularly exercise, those under 35 most often die from heart rhythm disorders. But above 35, the most common cause is a heart attack from a total blockage in the coronary arteries,” he explained.