“When we do exercise, normally our muscles contract, not the heart. However, when we do exercise too hard, the burden weighs the heart as well,”
UNAIR NEWS – Heart attack that took the life of national entertainer, Ashraf Sinclair, has gained public attention. Questions about heart attack from the public arose after that.
Dr. Bambang Purwanto, dr., M.Kes., Faculty of Medicine (FK) UNAIR gave some explanation about it. He said that when a person has done exercise excessively when his body is not fit, the burden which is normally for the muscles is directed to the heart. It has the potential to cause heart problems.
“When we do exercise, normally our muscles contract, not the heart. However, when we do exercise too hard, the burden weighs the heart as well,” explained Dr Bambang to UNAIR News at Physiology Department FK UNAIR on Tuesday, February 25, 2020.
Basically, an activity which burdens the heart can be easily detected. The initial response when it happens is accelerating heart beats. Normally, heart only beats 60-100 in a minute.
“Not only sports activity, non-physical activities as well. Such as watching horror movies or before tests. When the heart beats faster, it means it burdens the heart,” he said.
Dr. Bambang revealed that physiological changes will show after six weeks of exercise. So, it is impossible if someone expects results after doing exercise.
“Regular exercise does not guarantee us avoided from heart attack risk. We are all the same, whether the body is ready for excessive exercise,” he said.
He said that heart attack can be anticipated with few things. First, monitoring heart beats. If the heart beats faster, better take some rest.
It can be done using electrocardiogram (EKG). EKG will give information on heart condition and blockage in the heart.
“Actually there is an even earlier step, routinely measure the pulse in the morning for one minute. If you wake up, your pulse rate is above 100, it’s better that that day you don’t have any activities that will burden your body, especially your heart,” he said.
The capacity of the heart rate itself can be measured through age. The trick is to reduce the fixed rate, 220, by the age number. It means that if someone is 20 years old, then the maximum heart rate for one minute is 200 times.
“We should try to stay away from this maximum limit. If the heart rate is more than that it will definitely be dangerous, “he said.
The FK UNAIR lecturer said that chest pain after exercise really needs to be watched out for. If it happens, the body must be rested as comfortable as possible, then the foot is raised higher than the heart and immediately go to the hospital. Quoting from a health exercise reference, a person can be physically active up to a heart rate of 85 per cent of the maximum heart rate.
“But surely this condition is different for professionals, such as soldiers and athletes,” concluded Dr. Bambang. (*)
Author: Erika Eight Novanty
Editor: Feri Fenoria Rifa’i
