Locations:
Search IconSearch

Athletes With Enlarged Hearts: Is It Harmless or Serious?

The difference between athlete’s heart and serious medical issues

athlete runs up stairs in city

When you train your biceps, quadriceps or other muscle groups repeatedly over time, your muscles grow stronger, bigger and better equipped to deal with stress put on them.

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

Something similar happens with your heart, which is also a muscle. Regular cardiovascular exercise makes your heart more efficient at pumping blood to your body. In the case of athletes who do a lot of very high-intensity training, the heart sometimes actually gets a little bigger.

The term “athlete’s heart” refers to a natural, subtle enlargement that can happen as the heart adapts to intense athletic training. By itself, it’s not a disease or a medical condition and doesn’t cause harm.

However, an enlarged heart can also be a symptom of potentially serious heart problems such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy or hypertension.

So when a serious athlete shows sign of an enlarged heart, it’s important for a physician to differentiate between athlete’s heart and a problem, say Co-Directors of Sports Cardiology Tamanna Singh, MD, and Michael Emery, MD. Sometimes it takes a sports cardiology expert to tell the difference.

Athlete’s heart or underlying condition?

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a genetic disorder that causes the heart’s walls to slightly thicken. It’s a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes, so it’s important for athletes who have an enlarged heart to make sure they don’t have HCM.

A sports cardiologist looking to rule out HCM or another heart problem in an athlete would probably consider:

  • The sport’s unique demands and training techniques. “Sports-related changes to the heart are often particular to age, race, sex and type of sport,” says Dr. Emery. “All can have different ranges of ‘normal.’”
  • Results from tests such as an ECG, MRI, echocardiogram or stress test. “We are cautious in interpreting test results,” Dr. Singh says. “Most positive findings in athletes with no heart disease symptoms are false positives. That’s why we rarely rely on a single test. We will often design individualized stress tests that are specific to the athlete and the sport.”

Advertisement

Heart disease in athletes

Heart disease isn’t common in athletes, but if someone has concerning symptoms such as fainting, excessive shortness of breath, chest pain or an unexplained decline in performance, those should be checked out. A sports cardiologist will evaluate whether those symptoms are harmless symptoms related to the sport or something more serious.

If heart disease or another condition is diagnosed, it doesn’t necessarily mean the end of an athletic career.

“Detraining or quitting the sport is rarely necessary,” Dr. Singh assures. “Even athletes with a defibrillator can sometimes return to play. Sports cardiologists can discuss the pros and cons with the athlete and make a decision together.”

A cardiac exercise physiologist can also design an individualized exercise program with workouts that are safe for the athlete and effective for the sport.

“Our goal is to protect the heart, whether the patient is cleared to return to competition and training or directed toward noncompetitive activities,” Dr. Emery says.

Advertisement

Learn more about our editorial process.

Related Articles

Person positioned on foam roller, stretching muscles
September 26, 2024/Exercise & Fitness
IT Band Stretches for Tight Muscles

Relieve a tight, achy and aggravated IT band, as well as hip and knee pain, with these at-home exercises

Smiling Person briskly walking outside on sidewalk, jacket tied around waist
September 18, 2024/Heart Health
Can Walking Speed Be a Sign of Your Heart Health?

Studies show those who walk faster tend to have a lower risk of heart disease

Person outside, grabbing shoulder
September 17, 2024/Orthopaedics
Tendonitis vs. Tendinosis: How Can I Tell the Difference?

Both are forms of tendinopathy, but one is more of an acute injury caused by inflammation, while the other is the result of degeneration over time

Older person with can, sitting down on bed
September 16, 2024/Heart Health
Early Warning Signs of a Heart Attack

Recognizing subtle symptoms, like cold sweats, stomach discomfort and nausea, could be the key to survival

Person standing on scale in their bathroom, with measuring tape around waist
August 16, 2024/Heart Health
Do Statins Cause Weight Gain?

Statin use has been associated with weight gain but the reasons aren’t clear — and the benefits of statins far outweigh the risks

Oversized medical chart, glucose meter, pill bottle, with a normal-sized healthcare provider giving thumbs up
August 14, 2024/Heart Health
What’s the Connection Between Statins and Diabetes?

Some statins have been shown to slightly increase your risk of diabetes — but that shouldn’t keep you from taking the medication you need

Person in dentist chair receiving an exam from dentist, oversized heart nearby
August 12, 2024/Heart Health
Are Gum Disease and Heart Disease Connected?

Research points to an association between the health of your gums and cardiovascular disease

Two happy kids in lifejackets climbing ladder to top deck of boat
August 5, 2024/Primary Care
Boat Safety: How To Stay Safe on Open Water

Watch the weather, keep lines of communication open and make sure everyone on board has access to a personal lifejacket or flotation device

Trending Topics

Female and friend jogging outside
How To Increase Your Metabolism for Weight Loss

Focus on your body’s metabolic set point by eating healthy foods, making exercise a part of your routine and reducing stress

stovetop with stainless steel cookware and glassware
5 Ways Forever Chemicals (PFAS) May Affect Your Health

PFAS chemicals may make life easier — but they aren’t always so easy on the human body

jar of rice water and brush, with rice scattered around table
Could Rice Water Be the Secret To Healthier Hair?

While there’s little risk in trying this hair care treatment, there isn’t much science to back up the claims

Ad