Fatal Heart Attacks During Exercise Rare in Women

A research team at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston has recently proved that exercise is safe for both sexes, but even safer for women.

Although gradual workouts are more advisable and heart-healthy, fatal heart attacks are rare even during sudden heavy exercise, particularly among women.

The study, authored by Dr. Christine Albert, used results from the Nurses' Health Study. Of the nearly 85,000 middle-aged female nurses who enrolled in 1980 at the start of the study, only 288 suffered sudden cardiac deaths. Only 9 of these were due to exertion and only 3 happened during exercise.

Sudden heart attack death occured only once in 36.5 hours of exercising in women. Earlier studies indicate that middle-aged men were 19 times more at risk of having a fatal heart attack while exercising, a gap the study's authors could not explain.

Researchers, whose report was published in this week's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, advise that, even though heart attacks triggered by exercise are rare, particularly among women, both sexes should workout gradually rather than have episodes of heavy exertion. Another study from Brigham and Women's Hospital confirmed regular exercise is a good weapon to fight against heart disease.

Dr. Albert's study has found that only women who exercised less than 2 hours a week were at any risk of sudden death during a workout. Women who exercised 4 hours a week or more, had a 60% drop in the risk of sudden cardiac death, regardless of body size. However, only 15% of the women in the study exercised fro 4 or more hours a week.

The researchers admit there are limitations to this study as well: "Our study cannot prove causality, and the association between exercise and sudden cardiac death could at least in part be due to residual confounding".

Related Discussions Better Test for Sudden Heart Attacks New Study to Predict Heart Disease in Women Heart Rate During and After Exercise Tied to Sudden Death

Related Articles Overweight Women Need More Than Exercise to Save Heart Depression Fatal for Heart Patients Treatment for Fatal Heart Condition Found