People with heart defects can, and should, play sport
Although parents, teachers and sometimes even medical professionals often restrict the exercise of a child, teenager or adult with congenital heart disease, sporting activities can actually contribute to the general fitness level, wellbeing and overall quality of life. Insufficient exercise can, on the other hand, lead to motor deficiencies and make you feel marginalised and isolated from your peers. The number of Europeans prevented from doing sports varies substantially between countries. In Germany, Norway and Sweden, for example, the policy is to apply as few restrictions as possible.
Why sport is so important to you
Sport substantially improves most people’s quality of life, which is why adults with a congenital heart disease should be encouraged to exercise whenever possible. This approach is embraced in some European countries, such as Germany and Scandinavia, however in many other parts of Europe there are strict to moderate restrictions on the amount of sport that congenital heart disease patients can participate in.
Tailored recommendations
Whether you are declared healthy enough to participate in sport or not should be based on the results of the postoperative examination, not the severity of the heart defect. To assess one’s cardiological status, a special classification system has been developed and approved by the German Association for Prevention and Rehabilitation (DGPR) and other expert committees. Since diagnosis and residual results vary, recommending specific sports types to everyone with a congenital heart disease does not seem appropriate. Everyone should be advised what type of exercise (dynamic strain is generally more advisable than static strain) to avoid, emphasising those that they are allowed to do.
Why isn’t everyone allowed to play sport?
Patients with congenital heart disease should generally be allowed to participate in almost any type of sport. However, there are some exceptions:
- The heart defect is so severe that sport must be forbidden because physical activity could put their life in danger. This course of action is necessary only in exceptional cases and should not be a result of over protection.
- The heart defect allows only partial participation in sport because of the heart’s inability to adapt to physical strain. For example, taking anticoagulant drugs is incompatible with contact sports such as rugby. Additionally, wearing a pacemaker is incompatible with extreme stretching such as exercising on a hanging bar.
Whether people with congenital heart disease can play sport is a personal choice. The motto should always be “allow sport as much as possible, restrict sport no more than necessary”.
Comments on this article
ich habe auch einen schweren herzfehler. mein arzt ist im moment mit mir sehr zufrieden. ich mache auch sport in der schule mit und gehe privat auch noch mit einer freundin badminton spielen. das macht mir auch sehr viel spaß. ich bin zwar eingeschränkt, aber ich mache nur immer so viel, wie mein herz kann und auch so viel, wie ich kann.
lg julia
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