Hunters Are Good Targets for Heart Attacks

In an Oct. 1 press release, the University of Michigan Health System issued a sobering warning about the high risk of heart attack many fall hunters face. Although accidental shootings or falls from a tree stand are thought by many to pose the greatest danger to America's hunters, the U of M says the danger of a heart attack is much greater for many hunters.

Hunting is not the leisurely activity some think it is. Stalking pheasants, turkeys, deer and other wild game involves strenuous exercise and sudden bursts of activity that can bring on heart strain and problems. Dragging a deer back to camp or a waiting vehicle is hard work. And if the weather is especially cold, breathing in cold air can also compromise a hunter's health, especially anyone with a history of heart disease.

Dr. Eric Good of the U of M Cardiovascular Center specializes in treating heart rhythm disorders. He says that even though people don't think of hunting season as being particularly strenuous, it actually can be very demanding. "Hunters can experience cardiac stress that's equivalent to what might be produced by the treadmill stress test that doctors use to detect heart problems," he said. "In other words, hunters are achieving levels of activity that might put them at risk for heart attack or sudden death."

Of course, some hunters are at greater risk than others. Anyone with a history of heart disease should be particularly mindful of their activity. Good believes most of them can still enjoy getting out and spending time in the woods, but a visit to the family doctor beforehand is advisable. Others who should be aware of their heightened risk are smokers, anyone suffering from diabetes, folks who are overweight and anyone who has close relatives with heart problems before age 55.

Good cites a recent study in which 25 male hunters wore heart monitors while hunting. The study found that typical hunting activities changed their heart rhythms and rates to the degree that someone at risk for a heart attack could be significantly endangered while hunting. Good said "the adrenaline rush that comes with spotting your prey, and the sudden activity after sitting still for hours, can be a dangerous combination - especially for people who are already at high risk of a heart problem."

Regardless of a person's age and overall health, Good recommends taking the time to get in shape before hitting the woods. "Even a 30-minute fast walk several times a week can help - anything that gets your heart pumping at 60 to 80 percent of your maximum heart rate." Good also recommends that hunters avoid the big meal and late night drinking and smoking that's sometimes part of the night preceding a hunt. And, of course, no one should ever hunt alone.

Source:

Press release, Hunters: Don't Let Heart Trouble Ruin Your Season!; http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/533806/