AN EXPERT has called for a law making a fitness certificate mandatory for people training for a sport or embarking on a vigorous exercise programme.
This would help identify those with pre-existing conditions or a family history of heart problems and also offer advice on the best way to take part in sporting activities.
This would help in limiting sudden cardiac deaths (SCD) among these groups, pointed out BDF Hospital’s Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa Cardiac Centre consultant cardiologist and electrophysiology chief Dr Adel Khalifa.
The recommendation will be presented at a first-of-its kind sports conference to be held later this year.
Dr Khalifa
Dr Khalifa has also suggested including sports cardiology in Bahrain’s healthcare system.
The GDN earlier reported that the first edition of the Sports Cardiology Congress – under the theme ‘Athletes’ Heart – will be held from December 2 to 4 at the Gulf Hotel Bahrain, Convention & Spa. It will analyse cases of sudden deaths on pitches, parks, gyms, and walkways while also shedding spotlight on SCDs.
SCD occurs when the electrical system in a person’s heart goes haywire leading to them collapsing in a few seconds.
“It is highly recommended that we have a law in place which ensures that a person is physically fit before he does exercise of any kind or embarks on a sporting activity,” explained the expert, who is also the conference chairman.
“This can help reduce fatalities from sudden cardiac conditions.”
The senior medic was speaking exclusively to the GDN after a Press briefing on the Bahrain conference, which will be held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad’s representative for humanitarian work and youth affairs Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Shaikh Nasser had earlier ordered a probe into an alarming rise in people suffering fatal heart attacks while exercising or playing sport in Bahrain.
The GDN reported in 2019 that he had issued directives to study the technical design of walkways, playgrounds, and stadiums, as well as environmental conditions surrounding them.
The GDN also reported in 2017 how a government-appointed committee was set up to investigate two deaths that happened within a week of each other at a gym in Tubli.
“A health promotion campaign will soon be launched to educate public on SCD and ways to prevent it,” Dr Khalifa said.
“Sometimes we cannot prevent these incidents as we don’t know if the person has an underlying condition.
“However, one of the measures is that we should look for family history of heart problems. People with a history should ideally seek medical advice before engaging in, or planning, a sport activity.
“This is recommended even before any form of physical exercise – as more that 95 per cent of conditions can be identified this way.
“People also tend to ignore symptoms like palpitations while working out on a treadmill, which is not right.
“If one faces worrisome red flags like dizziness while on a treadmill, seek medical advice.”
In 2018, a 35-year-old Bahraini father-of-three died from heart attack while playing football at Malkiya Club. He was taken to the Kuwaiti Health Centre in Karzakan where efforts to resuscitate him failed.
And, last year, another Bahraini man suffered a heart attack and died while playing football in Adhari village.
Dr Khalifa stressed the need to develop sports cardiology – a fairly new specialty – in Bahrain as it offers ways to assess risks through various techniques.
“Bahrain leads the region in sports activities,” he said.
“We await many sporting activities in the future and it is important we look into having this specialty integrated into our system.
Educate
“This will not only be of help to athletes but also to educate commoners on the best practices.
“We will be addressing all these topics at the ‘Athletes’ Heart’ congress and will come up with insightful recommendations.” The event will be co-organised by the Health Ministry, Mohammed Bin Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa Cardiac Specialist Centre and the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports.
The three-day event will be attended by sports cardiologists from Bahrain, the Middle East, and other countries.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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