A study led by the University of Leeds has found that older male endurance athletes may be at an increased risk of abnormal heart rhythms due to heart scarring, especially in the left ventricle, compared to non-athletes.

During the two-year study involving 106 former competitive cyclists and triathletes who trained over 10 hours weekly for at least 15 years, 47% showed signs of heart scarring, and 23 of the athletes experienced episodes of ventricular tachycardia, most with heart scarring.

The research, part of the VENTOUX project, revealed that these heart issues are more prevalent among veteran endurance athletes, raising concerns about the long-term impact of intense training.

One participant, Brian Cookson, a 74-year-old cyclist, experienced a dangerous heart rhythm during training, which led to the implantation of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) after his heart rate reached 238 bpm.

Cookson's case highlights how such heart episodes can be life-threatening, but timely medical intervention with an ICD can be life-saving.

Dr. Peter Swoboda, the study's lead author, advises athletes experiencing symptoms like blackouts or chest pain to seek medical advice, emphasizing that regular exercise remains beneficial despite these findings.

He also reassures that the findings should not discourage healthy exercise habits but underscore the importance of monitoring heart health in veteran athletes.

Experts like Dr. Sonya Babu-Narayan from the British Heart Foundation stress that while exercise benefits health, prolonged intense training in veteran athletes may negatively impact heart health, warranting further research.

The ongoing research aims to include female endurance athletes to see if they face similar risks, which could help in developing targeted prevention strategies.