The Paradox of Exercise

Abstract

Sudden death from cardiac causes often occurs during or just after physical exertion.¹⁶ In some cases, such deaths occur during organized youth sports,⁶ a circumstance in which the victims are regarded as the epitome of health and fitness and their deaths may become the subject of scrutiny by the news media. More frequently, sudden deaths occur in persons of all ages during recreational activities or informal conditioning programs.¹⁵ Such sudden deaths related to exertion have proved to be the consequence of various (often unsuspected) structural heart diseases; the responsible disorders depend on age.^3,6 Atherosclerotic coronary artery disease . . .