Can Weightlifting Cause Cardiac Problems?

Exercise-induced heart attacks are on the rise. News of youngsters, including celebrities, who are fitness idols, dying of heart attacks in gyms are raising concerns! One of the most common ones in this regard is weightlifting and its potential connection with heart problems. Experts recommend undergoing a heart scan before beginning weightlifting. However, can weightlifting lead to cardiovascular issues? Let’s attempt to answer this question in this blog.

How Does Weightlifting Affect the Heart?

Lifting weights is part of an individual’s strength training routine. However, heavy weights can indeed stress your cardiovascular system. The relationship between these two factors is complex and varies individually, depending on lifestyle, genetics, and overall health.

Weightlifting can help enhance heart health by strengthening the heart muscle, and blood flow, and increasing the body’s capability to use oxygen. Additionally, it can help manage body weight, and reduce visceral fat.

Nevertheless, while lifting heavy weights, you must complement your exercise routine with a balanced diet, and adequate rest to enhance heart health. Furthermore, you must perform exercises under expert guidance to avoid incorrect movements, postures, and actions that can stress cardiovascular muscles and make you more susceptible to heart problems.

Can Weightlifting Mitigate Heart Disease Risk?

Yes. It can benefit your heart by lowering high blood pressure. As mentioned earlier, performing weightlifting regularly can help you maintain a healthy weight and reduce the likelihood of obesity. Additionally, lifting weights regularly and appropriately can help increase the good cholesterol levels and reduce the bad ones. The result is a much healthier and happier heart!

Some other benefits of weightlifting include regulated blood sugar levels, reduced Type 2 diabetes risk, and lowered mental stress. Together, all these factors can contribute to a stronger heart and reduce the chances of heart disease. 

Avoid Going Overboard with Weightlifting!

Anything in excess is harmful to your health. Exercising, including weightlifting isn’t an exception to this universal principle. Thus, you must understand the potential risks of overexertion on your heart health, even while lifting weights.

Often, novices go overboard with the number of sets or repetitions. On the other hand, many of them also push themselves too hard with lifting weights, in most cases going beyond their capacity. These actions lead to improper techniques, form, and postures, stressing muscles, including those of the heart.

Tips for Safe and Effective Weightlifting Routine

Engaging in a weightlifting routine is generally good for the health. However, doing something inappropriate can take a toll on your health. Accordingly, adhering to the below generic and simple tips can potentially help you keep many issues at bay.

• Consulting a doctor and determining if weightlifting is right for you
• If yes, charting a well-suited weightlifting routine with a fitness expert
• Performing all the exercises under the expert’s guidance
• Warming your body up adequately before beginning to exercise
• Cooling the body down sufficiently after the workout
• Beginning small and increasing weights gradually, only when it is time to
• Maintaining proper posture and form and following the right technique
• Staying hydrated and following a balanced and nutritious diet
• Ensuring adequate rest for your muscles
• Being consistent with the weightlifting routine
• Avoiding overtraining
• Listening to your body and responding to it in time

Building muscles through weightlifting is a long journey and not a short sprint. Hence, you shouldn’t hurry up and look to build muscles quickly. Instead, you must focus on doing things right and derive optimal benefits. Thus, when done inappropriately, weightlifting can stress your heart muscles. But when you do it correctly and only as much as required, it can help enhance heart health.

Nevertheless, individual suitability, impact, and outcomes may vary from person to person. As mentioned earlier, you must consult an expert doctor to know if lifting weights can benefit you or you should avoid it. Ranka Hospital can serve as an expert in this regard. Our cardiologists and fitness experts can guide you in every aspect and exercise safely. Call us at +91 – 20 – 24261530 to book an appointment.