Why does the heart hurt after the pool. Is swimming good for the heart and cardiovascular system? Rehabilitation after injuries

Swimming is a universal sport that has a positive effect on the work of all human organs. How swimming affects the heart, we will learn further.

Changes in the cardiovascular system during swimming

The cardiovascular system is responsible for the constant movement of blood throughout our body, the delivery of trophic substances to organs and tissues, digested products to excretion systems, and transports oxygen and carbon dioxide. Simply put, the heart and its many vessels regulate the work of all human organs and play a decisive role in their life support. That is why it is very important to have a healthy heart and blood vessels for good health.

Already today, many scientists have proven that constant physical activity in the form of swimming has a positive effect on work. of cardio-vascular system.

This is due to a number of factors:

1. Due to the fact that during the swim the human body is placed horizontally, the heart needs much less effort in order to move blood to the necessary organs.
2. Due to the pressure of water on the human body, the outflow of blood from the organs to the heart is much more efficient.
3. During swimming, the swimmer's muscles actively contract, and breathing becomes deeper. The work of the body in a similar mode facilitates the work of the heart and eliminates stagnation of blood and lymph in the vessels.
4. Even when swimming at a moderate pace, the person breathes deeply enough to cause full expansion and contraction of the lungs. Thus, a heart massage occurs - when you inhale, the lungs press on the heart muscle, and when you exhale, they release it.

From these theses, we can conclude that when exercising on the water, the human cardiovascular system begins to work more actively. Increased breathing, horizontal position and constant muscle contraction provide a good load on the work of the heart muscle and blood vessels. However, the conditions under which the internal organs are subjected to loads are very favorable, due to which the body's work in this mode provides a positive effect of swimming on the cardiovascular system.

How swimming affects the heart

• The heart can be thought of as a powerful pump that is responsible for constantly pumping blood through the circulatory system. For each person, it works in its own rhythm, which can vary depending on various factors. Every minute, about 6 liters of blood is pumped through the human body, which implies a constant contraction of the heart muscle. Constant loads in the form of swimming will affect the heart as follows:
• The heart will become stronger and its work more efficient. Simply put, in normal mode, the heart of an untrained person beats at a rhythm of 60 to 95 beats per minute, and the accelerated work of the heart during swimming of an athlete can provide up to 200 beats per minute. During the swim, the amount of blood entering the aorta also increases - from the usual 6 liters to 30–37 liters per minute. Such training gives the human organs and muscles effective nourishment and oxygenation, and high loads begin to be easier.
• Decreased heart rate. In normal mode, the heart of an untrained person functions in the mode of 60-95 beats per minute, and the heart of an athlete is able to contract 40-60 times per minute. A general decrease in heart rate allows the main motor of the body to function in a more economical mode, which means less wear and tear. The pause interval between contractions increases, which allows the muscle to rest more. And the volume of blood injected into the aorta in one cycle increases due to constant training.
• Endurance increases. Constant training of the heart increases its power, which means that physical activity will be easier for a trained person. The pulse and pressure will not increase so much, and there will be much more power to the state of fatigue, which once again indicates how great it is for the heart.

How swimming affects the vessels and blood

Vessels are a whole system of pathways through which blood is constantly pumped. Like any other organ in the human body, they tend to wear out, but they can be restored by physical activity. Constant swimming lessons provide the following changes in blood vessels:

• Vessels become more elastic and thick, less energy is spent on their contraction. Over time, changes also affect the vascular tissues in which the exchange occurs. This reduces the precipitation of cholesterol on the walls of blood vessels and prevents the development of varicose veins.
• Arteries increase in diameter, which leads to normalization blood pressure.
• The volume of the capillary bed increases by including additional lateral blood vessels in the work, which ensures the best food human cells and organs, and also prevents the risk of developing heart disease.
• Even a one-time training ensures the normalization of the composition of the blood and its main elements.

Swimming for heart disease

Many experts recommend swimming as a way to combat arrhythmia. According to doctors, the right approach to training will help strengthen the heart, and at least start to feel better. Before training, you should do breathing exercises, and only then proceed to the lesson. In this case, there should not be high speeds, swimming techniques with a long breath hold.

Swimming is also included. health complex with vegetative dystonia, characterized by high blood pressure. As mentioned earlier, with constant training, the arteries increase in diameter, which for patients with VVD will only benefit. But of course, in case of heart disease, the right approach to training, consultation with a specialist and preferably working with a trainer are very important. Only in this case, such prevention can benefit, and not harm the patient.

The appearance of pain in the heart after training occurs in both athletes and ordinary people. This causes anxiety and thoughts appear that something is wrong in the body. Indeed, such a symptom may indicate a pathology, but not always.

Localization and character

The nature of the pain after physical exertion can be:

• acute;
• aching;
• stabbing;
• squeezing;
• cutting.

Pain localization options:

• behind the breastbone;
• in the region of the heart;
• with irradiation to the neck, shoulder, shoulder blade.

The duration of pain depends on the cause of their cause. In most cases, discomfort disappears immediately after discontinuation. sports activities. In the case of a serious pathology, they can persist for a long time.

Along with pain, other symptoms may also be present:

• general weakness;
• increased sweating;
• dizziness;
• headache;
• fainting states;
• increased heart rate;
• feeling of panic.

Possible reasons

Pain in the heart after exercise can occur due to causes of a cardiac or non-cardiac nature. Here are the most common reasons:

1. Vegetovascular dystonia (VVD). This disorder, which is based on a violation of the regulation of vascular tone. Most often it occurs in children after physical education. Read more about heart pain with VVD.
2. Neuralgia. Pain syndrome occurs due to compression of the roots of the spinal nerves by muscles or intervertebral discs.
3. . Necrosis of the heart muscle, which occurs as a result of an acute violation of the coronary blood flow.
4. . Violation of the normal contraction and relaxation of the heart muscle, as a result of which an insufficient amount of blood enters the periphery.
5. . Violation of blood circulation in the coronary arteries.
6. Cardiac ischemia. Infringement and narrowing of blood vessels lead to impaired blood supply.
7. The use of hormones and anabolics.

Watch this video and you will find out the doctor's opinion about the causes of pain in the heart after physical activity.

After strength training

In some cases, athletes report the appearance of heart pain after strength training. This is due to a sharp, intense load on the body. The contractions of the heart muscle become more intense, therefore, the myocardium requires more oxygen. If she is not able to withstand such a rhythm, then hemodynamic failures inevitably occur, pain and shortness of breath appear.

Also, discomfort in the chest area is associated with an increased load on the spinal column. This usually affects teenagers who do not yet know their norm. A high probability of injury to the spine occurs when exercising with barbells, dumbbells, and simulators.

After aerobic exercise

Aerobic activities include swimming, running, dancing, race walking and others. In a certain amount, they are necessary for a person every day to enrich the body with oxygen. But if the load is too intense or long, then it already becomes dangerous for the heart and blood vessels. Such activity provokes structural changes in the heart arteries and aorta and leads to diseases. The risk group is professional athletes: skiers, cyclists, marathon runners and others.

After yoga

If the asanas are performed incorrectly or not at the proper pace, then pains in the heart can be provoked. Therefore, beginners should definitely start yoga classes with a teacher. If such a situation has already occurred, then the instructor will adjust the training plan, suggest ways to get rid of discomfort. This is usually achieved by reducing physical activity and changing asana.

If there are not only pains in the heart area, but also a violation of blood pressure indicators, then read more about what can be done or what should be.

What to do?

If, after stopping the workout, the pain syndrome does not go away on its own, then you should take nitroglycerin under the tongue.

To identify the disease, a stress test is prescribed. This is the performance of an electrocardiogram at rest and during exercise. The study reveals several things:

• the state of the circulatory system of the heart;
• the presence or absence of ischemia, vasoconstriction and atherosclerotic plaques.

If heart disease is detected, then the cardiologist prescribes appropriate treatment.

In other cases, you must follow a number of recommendations:

• Be sure to warm up before exercising.
• Adjust the intensity of training, avoid overload.
• Increase physical activity gradually.
• Determine what activities provoke the occurrence of pain and remove them from the training program.
• Set up proper nutrition.
• Include foods with large quantity magnesium and potassium. These elements contribute to the restoration of electrolyte balance, make the heart rhythm stable, and improve conduction along the neuromuscular fibers. These products include: beans, legumes, buckwheat, seaweed, lean meat.
• Strengthening the heart with herbal decoctions (based on rhodiola, hawthorn).
• Eliminate bad habits.
• Get enough sleep.
• Drink enough water (on average two liters).
• Undergo an annual physical examination.
• Treat all diseases promptly.
• If necessary, reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood. Good effect gives, for example, soy protein.
• Be sure to include cardio workouts (lasting 30-60 minutes) in your workout plan to train the heart muscle.

Even professional skiers, runners, swimmers, bodybuilders and other athletes experience pain in the heart after training. It is imperative to find out the true reason for which they arise, and in accordance with this, solve the problem.

You can swim? Swimming in the sea and in the pool is a little different, but unfortunately, not everyone has access to salt water all year round. The pool is a great place where you relieve fatigue and get a charge of vivacity! And it is he who will help get rid of ten diseases! Look what!

Swim, take care of yourself, smile more often and!

1. Neuroses

Water when swimming affects the nerve endings throughout the body, relaxes and soothes. The influence of water temperature regulates the processes of excitation and inhibition, fatigue is relieved, memory and attention improve due to the improvement of blood circulation in the brain.

All this has a positive effect on the central one - after swimming, a person falls asleep more easily and sleeps more soundly.

In addition, water evokes pleasant associations that are lacking in everyday life, which has a beneficial effect on the psycho-emotional state in general.

2. Diseases of the joints (osteochondrosis, arthritis, arthrosis)

In many cases, swimming is the only sport and physical activity that is indicated for joint diseases, since a person does not feel the heaviness of his body in the water.

Smooth movements in the water massage the periarticular tissues, thereby improving the outflow of lymph, reducing edema, regeneration of cartilage tissue occurs, and spasmodic muscles relax.

3. Herniated discs

According to statistics, today for every 100 thousand people there are 100 cases of a herniated disc. In many cases, pool swimming treatments help a person to cure this disease without surgery.

Classes in the pool allow you to strengthen the back muscles, which ultimately take on part of the load, thereby unloading the damaged one.

4. Paralysis and partial loss of the ability to move

The main manifestation of paralysis is the absence or decrease in voluntary motor activity, as a result of which a person loses the ability to walk and make active movements. Therefore, swimming is almost the only option for physical activity.

Swimming is also an effective means of preventing strokes, which often lead to paralysis. Swimming contributes to the normalization of vascular tone and pressure, and also effectively fights obesity, which is also the cause of arterial hypertension (the cause of stroke).

5. Rehabilitation after injuries

According to statistics, every eighth inhabitant of the planet during his life receives at least one serious injury in the form of fractures, back injuries, meniscal tears and other knee injuries. A very part of the injury leads to surgical intervention, after which the human body requires recovery.

Swimming in the pool contributes to the rapid recovery of the muscular paravertebral frame, restores muscle tone and reduces pain, which allows you to expand the motor regime.

6. Obesity, overweight

Swimming with obesity gives a simultaneous load on all muscles, but at the same time completely removes it from the spine and joints of the legs, compared to any “land” physical activity, because water provides the effect of weightlessness.

In addition, swimming, water aerobics and even just bathing are very good for the cardiovascular system (a big problem for fat people): blood circulation improves, blood flow goes to everyone internal organs, while the outflow of blood from the periphery improves, the pressure stabilizes.

7. Heart disease

Swimming is effective tool treatment and prevention of diseases of the cardiovascular system, such as hypertension, exertional angina, vegetative dystonia, atherosclerotic vascular disease.

The use of swimming for the treatment and prevention of diseases of the cardiovascular system makes it possible to reduce the burden on the body from the use of chemicals, and sometimes even completely abandon them.

8. Bronchitis and bronchial asthma

Swimming is both breathing exercises, and massage, and also has its own effect on our respiratory system. Classes in the pool are shown to all patients with bronchopulmonary pathology, and swimming is perfect for prevention and improving functional performance respiratory system, as well as the resistance of the whole organism.

For people suffering from pathology of the bronchopulmonary apparatus, it is not only expedient, but vital to go in for swimming.

9. Varicose veins

Patients with varicose veins are prohibited many strength exercises in gym, running and intense aerobics, as this leads to an increase in the load on the legs, which contributes to an increase in venous pressure in the lower extremities. This leads to the development and aggravation varicose veins veins.

Training in the pool, in turn, does not have such consequences. During swimming, due to the body being in a horizontal position, there is an outflow of blood from the legs, and there is also a decrease in the load on the legs compared to other sports. Swimming has a beneficial effect on the veins, provides them with relaxation and normal blood circulation.

10. Violation of posture

Violation of posture is a common deviation in the state of health of children. If in the primary grades, only one in fifteen has a violation of posture, then by the time they leave school, it occurs in half of the children.

During swimming, the human body is in a weightless state, due to which there is a decrease in gravitational loads on the spine.

At the same time, it stimulates the strengthening of the muscular corset of the spinal column, harmonizes the tone of the paravertebral muscles, the muscles of the chest and lower back. Swimming develops coordination of movements, which suffers to a large extent in children with postural disorders.

Will swimming not only help to relax, but also improve the health of people with heart problems? It turned out that there are many pitfalls in this topic, which Tatyana Anikeeva, medical director of the Dobrobut MS, told Health 24 about.

Cardiovascular disease - both among men and among women. Heart disease harms many people, regardless of age and gender. Unfortunately, we cannot influence our genetic code to avoid hereditary diseases, but most factors can be influenced.

The main causes of cardiovascular diseases: smoking, high level cholesterol, high blood pressure, overweight, obesity, diabetes and lack of physical activity.

Our muscles are "mini-pumps". And the heart is the biggest "pump" that pumps blood. When the muscles work, they push blood through the vessels, and it flows further through the body. Therefore, when a person does not move, the heart takes over the main function. And when we walk, squat, swim, we help him,
- notes the doctor.

During physical activity, the pulse accelerates and blood pressure changes. But what about the "cores"? After all, there are a lot of diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Can swimming be banned cardiovascular diseases?

Swimming: the benefits and harms of heart disease

It all depends on the severity of heart failure. Many of us have heard of such a thing as "heart failure". This is not an independent diagnosis, but, as a rule, it is a consequence of very many heart diseases. And the New York Heart Association even divided this diagnosis into several functional classes depending on the severity.

This classification helps to determine in which case swimming is useful and in which it is harmful. And we are talking not only about relaxing by the sea or by the river, when there is an opportunity to swim. This also applies to regular visits to the pool.

Many of us believe that we do not have health problems. But if it is difficult for a person to swim 25 meters, while the person is young and relatively healthy, then the question involuntarily arises: "Is everything really all right?" Therefore, a visit to the doctor and a visit to the pool can serve as a marker that "everything is OK" or "it's time to be treated."

Heart problems: who can swim and who can't?

So, there are 4 functional classes (FC) of heart failure depending on the severity, and these are 4 different options for physical activity in the form of swimming (or a ban on it).

I class- this includes people who can swim, although they have heart disease. And in their case, such physical activity is even useful.

II class– physical activity is possible, especially when it comes to people with overweight. They still need exercise. But at overweight it is difficult to walk, and in the water it becomes easier for a person to move around. In this case, swimming or aqua aerobics is possible only under medical supervision.

III class For these patients, physical activity is limited. Even a small swim or other physical activity already causes them shortness of breath and weakness.

IV class- swimming is prohibited, because a person suffocates even at rest.

So, if a person suffers from heart failure, then you must first find out with a cardiologist the cause of its appearance, begin appropriate treatment, and then decide with a rehabilitation doctor or physical therapist how to choose the right load,
Tatyana Anikeeva explained.

If a person has one of the diseases of the heart and blood vessels, but it is without heart failure and threatening arrhythmias, then ordinary physical activity is useful.

Under the guise of heart disease

Sometimes it happens that a person complains about the heart, and under the "mask" of a cardiovascular disease, there is a completely different disease. For example, radicular syndrome (sciatica), in which pain appears in different places, including in the region of the heart. Therefore, it seems to a person that something is wrong with his heart.

Physical activity in the pool

And when a patient comes to the doctor with complaints of heart pain, for some reason he prescribes him ... swimming. "Why? I have heart problems," the patient will be surprised. And this is necessary to relieve muscle spasm and subsequently strengthen the muscles of the spine. As a result of this, the spinal roots will not be clamped and therefore discomfort in the region of the heart will disappear,
– said the doctor.

Swimming affects the heart and blood vessels in the same way as any other physical activity.. There is an increase in heart rate, normalization of blood pressure. It doesn't matter what sport you use to speed up your heart rate. It can be squats, walking or exercises in the water. And you don't have to swim breaststroke. If your cardiologist has allowed physical activity in the water, then start at least small to strengthen your heart.

Heart disease - symptoms

Feeling short of breath at rest may be a symptom of heart failure

Swelling of the ankles. Fluid buildup can result from heart failure and poor circulation in the legs

Dizziness is often a direct sign of heart problems, so it doesn't pump enough blood to the brain. Dizziness and shortness of breath can be a symptom of an arrhythmia and even a heart attack;

Change in skin color.

If any of these symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.

The situation when the heart hurts after a workout is rare for young people, but with age, complaints of chest pain associated with strength training become quite common.

The cause of the pain symptom is most often non-cardiac (non-cardiac) in nature, but in some cases the symptom may also indicate a coronary problem, especially in people over 40 years of age, smokers and those who have a family history of cases of cardiovascular accidents.

The heart muscle works constantly and produces in the so-called "resting state" (that is, when we do not move) 60-70 contractions per minute. During physical activity, the need of organs and tissues for oxygen and other nutrients increases, which leads to an increase in heart rate by 2 times or even more. For the heart, which, we recall, is a muscular “bag” that receives blood from some vessels and pushes it into others, this is not a problem.

The so-called cardio loads, which primarily include running, swimming, cycling, have a beneficial effect on metabolic processes in the heart and vascular wall, train and strengthen them.

The reader may ask a reasonable question: if a rapid heartbeat has such a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, then what causes pain in the heart after physical exertion. It is impossible to answer this question in one word. However, by certain signs, you can understand whether the heart hurts or not.

When we talk about the fact that during or after a workout the heart hurts, then this requires the presence of a complex of the following signs:

• (i.e., in the center of the chest) with a return to the left side of the chest or in the center of the back with a return under the left shoulder blade;
• possible irradiation to left hand and shoulder, in the neck, in the lower jaw;
• pain is paroxysmal, appears with a prolonged load and recedes with a decrease in the intensity of exercise (i.e., not after training, the heart hurts, but during it);
• panic feeling of fear;
• dizziness, sudden "perspiration", feeling of weakness.

It should be noted that heart pain is special, you can’t really confuse it with other pains. It is accompanied by a sharp and panic fear, uncontrollable, sudden, physiological, it cannot be overcome by an effort of will. At the moment of heartache, a person instinctively freezes and stops any activities.

So, if the "heart" hurts during or after training, while these symptoms are absent, then this is most likely a non-cardiac pain.

In most cases, the reason why it hurts in the left half of the chest is, i.e., pinching and pinching of nerve fibers. This condition may be due to:

• osteochondrosis (very often);
• intervertebral hernia;
• tumors of the chest.

Heart Health Principles

After workout

As noted above, heart pain caused by coronary insufficiency against the background of increased load, as a rule, is paroxysmal. It lasts 1-3 minutes and after a decrease in the intensity of the load recedes.

If, after a workout, the heart hurts, then this can say:

• about the complete overlap of the lumen of the coronary artery and the approaching heart attack;
• about a non-heart reason.

A distinctive feature of a heart attack is acute and sharp pain, growing in its intensity, paroxysmal, which is accompanied by panic fear. In this state, human activity is reduced, up to the impossibility of independent movement.

Chest pain after exercise, which is not accompanied by the above symptoms, obviously has a neuralgic cause and is most likely associated with an overload of the spine during exercise, with compression of the nerve pathways in the muscles. Neuralgic pains are characterized by:

• even intensity;
• lack of growing dynamics;
• seizures are associated with body movements or with a change in its position;
• duration (can last for hours).

After strength training

Pain in the heart after strength training can be explained by the fact that, unlike those types physical activities, which are usually referred to as cardio loads, when “swinging”, powerlifting, the load increases not gradually, but sharply.

So, for example, each approach to the bar causes the heart to sharply increase the frequency and strength of contractions, which dramatically increases the need for oxygen in the heart muscle. As a result, the cardiovascular system does not have time to adapt, and it needs to certain time for this. Under certain conditions ( , coronary spasm, mechanical compression of the chest organs) such a sharp increase in demand can initiate angina pectoris pain.

In addition, the appearance of pain in the heart after a workout is often associated with excessive stress on the spine. Whatever exercise is done - bench press, squat with a barbell and so on - all this maximally loads the vertebrae and, more importantly, the discs located between them.

It should be remembered that lifting weights is not intended by the design of the spine and can harm it. At the same time, vertebral pains successfully imitate heart pains.

Running is the most natural load on the human body, the intensity of which increases gradually, which is good for the heart and blood vessels. As with any cardio exercise, during running, the heart muscle needs an increased intake of nutrients. The appearance of pain in this case may indicate a limited capacity of the coronary vessels due to their atherosclerosis.

Cases where the heart hurts after or during cardio training require a mandatory visit to a cardiologist for a consultation, since early detection of cardiac ischemia provides the best opportunities for therapy.

What to do with pain in the heart after a workout?

1. When discomfort occurs in chest it is necessary to reduce the load, this should be done immediately after the deterioration of the condition. The intensity of classes must necessarily correspond to the capabilities of the cardiovascular system.
2. Pain in the heart after exercise requires careful attention to your body. Sometimes it hurts in the chest when exercising on a certain type of simulators, when performing certain exercises. It is necessary to monitor your condition during training and draw conclusions about which exercises and simulators should be excluded.
3. Increasing the pace and intensity of classes should be done gradually so that the heart muscle can adapt to new conditions.

Useful video

For more information about changes in the heart during exercise, see the following video:

Conclusion

1. Any person, especially one who goes in for sports systematically, should be alerted if the heart hurts after a workout. What to do in this case is to reduce the intensity of the load and visit a doctor for a personal consultation.
2. People involved in sports should be aware that any physical activity leads to increased production of endorphins, which, among other things, increase the pain threshold.
3. If your heart hurts after the gym, it is important not to ignore it. Even if the pain is not very intense, they can talk about an existing problem, the earlier detection of which will provide a better prognosis for the future.