Is that true that bodybuilders put allot of strain on there heart and end up with heart diseases?

Question

I heard that bodybuilders get heart attacks and die early espicialy the ones over weight.I heard even alot of muscles is hard for the heart to pump that much blood to the reast of the huge body[I heard sumo wreslers and bodybuilders have that problem].Is that true or its only a myth because i seen body builders that are in there 70s and still work out and are healty like horses.

Answer 1

Not really........ but something on your statement is correct!

On a healthy individual without history of heart disease any form of exercise is good to the heart. Including simple walking, jogging, running, lifting weights and other sports.

The problem with the bodybuilders who developed heart disease is not really related on how much weight he lifted or what kind of program he did. It depends on what kind of supplements he took while on his trainning.

Almost all of the body builders took at least one pill/powder/injection of muscle enhancer.

This muscle enhancer can help the individual to improve and develop their strength on doing their trainning exercises. But some of this enhancer like steroids produces devastating adverse effect on the heart when uses inappropriately. They can cause hypertension, cardiomegaly or enlargement of the heart and leading to (early) death if not treated.

Regarding with Sumo wrestling, they die early because of HEART ATTACK but not because of THE HEART NEED TO PUMP HARD BECAUSE OF THEIR HUGE BODY.

Yes they have big body but most of it was FATS.

Being fat/obese is directly related to CARDIO VASCULAR DISEASES. They are at risk of Atherosclerosis, AMI, etc... which eventually leads them to death if not treated promptly!

Regarding your statement "THE HEART NEED TO PUMP HARD BECAUSE OF THEIR HUGE BODY".... It is true on some condition. (but ot in body builder or sumo wrestler)

On a condition of GIGANTISM or extremely tall people with long arms and legs, THE HEART NEEDS TO PUMP HARDER in order to push and deliver the blood on a distant extremities. Because the distance of the distal capillary on extremities is too far, the heart need to work double.

Answer 2

Remember that many (not all though) bodybuilder's end up using banned substances that tend to cause heart problems further down the line. There is a point though, were the heart has to pump more blood to the huge mass, which isn't normal, of muscles created during exercise and eventually the heart will break down over time. This is kind of similar to why you never see an old giant.

Make a fist and that's the size of your heart. Look at your body in the mirror and imagine your heart pumping blood throughout your body. Now imagine 40+ extra lbs of muscle on you- that's more mass for your heart to pump blood to every second.

Answer 3

Yes, you are correct! Take the case of Arnold (Ex Mr Universe etc.), in the end they are eating more and exercising less, so the tone of muscles are lost BUT due to increase in weight and lack of exercise ,they do get heart attacks etc.
Those who do maintainable exercise and eat less, the chances of heart attack are less.
This is a very short answer.

Answer 4

It depends on their total program. Bill Pearl says he does a 20 minute cardio workout before he lifts weights.

Lifting heavy weight raises blood pressure very high. That can cause a ruptured weak spot in an artery, or a ballooning that may burst later. Those are called aneurysms. Yes, that can kill you. But cardiac arteries are pretty flexible.