#69 - Should middle-aged men pull on lycra? With Dr Andre La Gerche

Dr Glenn McConell chats with Assoc Prof Andre La Gerche a world leading Sports Cardiologist from St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia. Acute exercise for long periods at a high intensity can result in abnormal right ventricle function. In addition, years of long, hard exercise training is associated with increased coronary artery calcium (CAC) levels and atrial fibrillation (AF). Despite this, Andre is a huge advocate of exercise across the population and generally even in these individuals. The evidence is that exercise training increase healthspan and reduces mortality rates despite some of these changes. A very important, interesting chat. Twitter: @ALaGerche0:00. Introduction + how Andre got into sports/exercise research5:30. Andre’s excellent marathon running7:32. Is exercise good for the heart?10:50. Media fear around ex and the heart13:45. Increased CAC and heart attack risk17:00. Exercise protective even if increased CAC18:56. Andre hasn’t had a CAC scan22:28. Plague build up in the coronary arteries23:50. Some people never have coronary issues24:50. Genetics and the heart26:55. Jim Fixx: died running27:40. How can exercise increase CAC?32:00. Get into exercise slowly33:30. Coronary “hot plagues” and heart attacks35:30. Exercise before a heart operation36:45. Exercise training increases hearts reserve with age37:33. 1969 marathon WR holder Derek Clayton: still amazing heart43:15. AF more common in endurance athletes45:43. Female endurance athletes have increased AF47:55. Generally if in doubt, keep exercising50:43. Women have relatively more stable hearts52:50. Cardiac screening of athletes55:55. Ventricular arrhythmias: continue sport or not?59:50. It's hard to estimate heart attack risk1:01:58. Right ventricle after long hard races1:08:10. Rare ventricular tachycardia in professional athletes1:11:34. The importance of seeing a sports cardiologist1:14:40. Big vs enormous hearts in top endurance athletes1:18:10. Genetics and the heart1:19:25. EPO, anabolic steroids, very hard training and the heart1:24:20. Resistance training, anabolic steroids and the heart1:28:15. Best exercise to do for the heart and health1:29:50. What’s the cutoff of ex for increased AF?1:33:50. Blood indicators of heart damage/recovery1:36:45. Right ventricle “fatigue” and recovery1:40:50. Heart failure/heart reserve and exercise (sex differences)1:44:00. Don't assume sudden death in athletes drug related1:45:45. Negative cardiac effects of the Covid19 vaccine in some people1:50:12. Takeaway messages1:52:38. Outro (9 seconds)Inside Exercise brings to you the who's who of research in exercise metabolism, exercise physiology and exercise’s effects on health. With scientific rigor, these researchers discuss popular exercise topics while providing practical strategies for all.The interviewer, Emeritus Professor Glenn McConell, has an international research profile following 30 years of Exercise Metabolism research experience while at The University of Melbourne, Ball State University, Monash University, the University of Copenhagen and Victoria University.He has published over 120 peer reviewed journal articles and recently edited an Exercise Metabolism eBook written by world experts on 17 different topics (https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-94305-9).Connect with Inside Exercise and Glenn McConell at:Twitter: @Inside_exercise and @GlennMcConell1Instagram: insideexerciseFacebook: Glenn McConellLinkedIn: Glenn McConell https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenn-mcconell-83475460ResearchGate: Glenn McConellEmail: [email protected] to Inside exercise:Spotify: shorturl.at/tyGHLApple Podcasts: shorturl.at/oFQRUYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@insideexerciseAnchor: https://anchor.fm/insideexerciseGoogle Podcasts: shorturl.at/bfhHIAnchor: https://anchor.fm/insideexercisePodcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/4025218Not medical advice