To ask any cardiologists on here about collapsing when running

[Cardioquestion]

Hi,

I was just wondering whether it is usual to collapse whilst running and whether this is something that needs investigating?

Over ten years ago now I was jogging and suddenly collapsed. I didn't lose consciousness and it didn't feel like a faint (I've fainted from Orthostatic hypotension before, after standing too quickly from lying down so know what it feels like) but like being dragged from my torso to the ground with my legs giving way suddenly and unexpectedly in the process. I cut my arm when I fell but a family member suggested I was probably just hyperventilating as I was relatively new to running and so I didn't bother my GP about it.

After hearing about Eriksen yesterday, I was just wondering whether my collapse could have been caused by an arrhythmia or whether I would have experienced more episodes of collapse if this was the case?

I have a close family member with a relatively mild form of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome but that could just be a coincidence.

Thanks in advance for your help.

How old are you?

Early 30s and I was 21 at the time that I collapsed.

I would investigate it.

I knew of someone who literally had a heartache and died in their late 20s. It was a rare genetic heart condition and the one positive to come out of their untimely demise was that it allowed other family members to get tested for it.

Are you actually losing consciousness or are your legs giving way?
If just related to your legs then its u likely to be a heart condition, but if you are worried best to contact your GP

@Cazzamoomoo

I would investigate it.

I knew of someone who literally had a heartache and died in their late 20s. It was a rare genetic heart condition and the one positive to come out of their untimely demise was that it allowed other family members to get tested for it.

Thanks Cazzamoomoo, I think I might get it investigated. One of my friends lost her brother to Cardiomyopathy in his late teens so I am aware of sudden cardiac death in the young.

Early 30s and I was 21 at the time that I collapsed

If you’re under 35 CRY will screen you for free. www.c-r-y.org.uk/.

Easier than GP, the one we went to had a consultant cardiologist reviewing everyone. Take cash as they often have fundraisers at the same time- tombolas etc, and it’s usually run in the name of an affected family member.

I would speak with your GP. A GP can do basic tests for you such as a 24 hour trace but some conditions (like mine -SVT) are quite tricky to catch on a standard monitoring so you may get a referral to a cardiologist if GP deems it necessary. The SVT can cause me to collapse as it sends my BP crazy but I don’t experience the dragging sensation you describe. I’ve also experienced hyperventilating & I didn’t get that sensation then either.

@Souther

Are you actually losing consciousness or are your legs giving way? If just related to your legs then its u likely to be a heart condition, but if you are worried best to contact your GP

It was just a one off, over ten years ago. I didn't fully lose conscious I don't think- the feeling was of something in my chest area and then my legs turning to jelly after that but that may have been due to overly shallow breathing or something. I think the fact that it was a one off and such a long time ago probably makes it less likely to be anything serious.

I have some medical background but am not a doctor, I do know that it isn't unusual at all for people in their early 20s to have strange 'episodes' of symptoms that occur only once, such as collapses or fits. Do you remember anything about your hydration at the time? Sudden muscle involvement in chest and legs while running would make me think of electrolyte imbalance.

I am not a cardiologist but have a lot of personal experience with cardiac issues.

Heart problems are usually either the ‘plumbing’ or the ‘electrics’ and sometimes both.

Plumbing problems lead to heart attacks and insufficient blood being pumped around the body, they are often caused by either malformations in the heart itself which you are born with or a narrowing of the ‘pipes’ brought on by illness/genetics/unhealthy lifestyle

Electrical problems lead to fast, slow or irregular heart rhythms which can be benign or problematic. Many many people have benign irregular heart rhythms, the problem is telling what is which..

The main way to work out if you have a structural/plumbing problem with your heart is via a cardiac ultrasound, know as an echocardiogram.

The main way to work out if you have an electrical problem is via an ECG electrocardiogram. The biggest problem with ECGs is that problem heart rhythms often dont happen all the time, so catching them on tape is difficult.

There is a device you can buy called a Kardia which can record an ECG at home and you can email it to a doctor to look at. I use it to catch my arrthymias and it is very accurate and easy to use with an app and a smart phone.

If you have has one unexplained collapse and no others, the chances are that it was a random event. But if it is worrying you, you can get yourself checked out

WPW syndrome is an electrical problem, so a Kardia might be of help. But the genetically inherited variants they have identified are all dominant. This means that if one of your parents has it, you and all your siblings would have it. If the close relative who has been diagnosed is a sibling, you should definitely get checked. If they are a cousin/aunt you are less likely to have it as likely it would have shown symptoms in one of your siblings and/or parent as well by now.

Hope this is helpful

Could have been electrolyte imbalance, could have been a sudden drop in blood pressure, could have been an arrhythmia like ventricle tachycardia that then became a-fib, but you would likely have noticed your heart beating fast and then also out of rhythm and/or passed out. Also, you wouldn’t have been able to get up and feel ok unless you’d converted back to normal rhythm very quickly.

I’d have certainly had it investigated at the time. Have you had any episodes of arrhythmia since then? Tachycardia, ectopic beats etc? Usually these are entirely benign, but worth investigating.

What happened to Eriksen was terrifying, but he required CPR and so what happened to him was not what happened to you.

I cannot comment on an individual case of unknown pathology, but I am aware that there has been a marked uptick in myocarditis in recently covid vaccinated, most sharply in young men.
The data is concerning, we just don’t have enough of it yet.
Of course, I have no idea whether this was or was not connected to this case, but I’m sure his medical team are investigating. I am generally rather worried about what we are seeing.

@Pedalpushers

I have some medical background but am not a doctor, I do know that it isn't unusual at all for people in their early 20s to have strange 'episodes' of symptoms that occur only once, such as collapses or fits. Do you remember anything about your hydration at the time? Sudden muscle involvement in chest and legs while running would make me think of electrolyte imbalance.

Thanks Pedalpushers. I think you're probably right- although I was hydrated and had had a snack but it's more likely to be something simple that caused it.

@WilsonMilson

Could have been electrolyte imbalance, could have been a sudden drop in blood pressure, could have been an arrhythmia like ventricle tachycardia that then became a-fib, but you would likely have noticed your heart beating fast and then also out of rhythm and/or passed out. Also, you wouldn’t have been able to get up and feel ok unless you’d converted back to normal rhythm very quickly.

I’d have certainly had it investigated at the time. Have you had any episodes of arrhythmia since then? Tachycardia, ectopic beats etc? Usually these are entirely benign, but worth investigating.

What happened to Eriksen was terrifying, but he required CPR and so what happened to him was not what happened to you.

I cannot comment on an individual case of unknown pathology, but I am aware that there has been a marked uptick in myocarditis in recently covid vaccinated, most sharply in young men.
The data is concerning, we just don’t have enough of it yet.
Of course, I have no idea whether this was or was not connected to this case, but I’m sure his medical team are investigating. I am generally rather worried about what we are seeing.

I recovered very quickly so that sounds like it's very unlikely to have been anything serious then? I don't suffer with health anxiety so I'm not overly concerned.

I have had extrasystoles in the past but I think everyone does from time to time? I have had heart rates of up to 205 on a monitor whilst running uphill quickly in the past but probably just because I was unfit at the time and relatively young.

Is the hereditary type of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome less common than the non-hereditary type? My brother gets episodes of tachycardia at rest with his, whereas I think my pulse is fairly regular and around 60 at rest.

@WilsonMilson

Could have been electrolyte imbalance, could have been a sudden drop in blood pressure, could have been an arrhythmia like ventricle tachycardia that then became a-fib, but you would likely have noticed your heart beating fast and then also out of rhythm and/or passed out. Also, you wouldn’t have been able to get up and feel ok unless you’d converted back to normal rhythm very quickly.

I’d have certainly had it investigated at the time. Have you had any episodes of arrhythmia since then? Tachycardia, ectopic beats etc? Usually these are entirely benign, but worth investigating.

What happened to Eriksen was terrifying, but he required CPR and so what happened to him was not what happened to you.

I cannot comment on an individual case of unknown pathology, but I am aware that there has been a marked uptick in myocarditis in recently covid vaccinated, most sharply in young men.
The data is concerning, we just don’t have enough of it yet.
Of course, I have no idea whether this was or was not connected to this case, but I’m sure his medical team are investigating. I am generally rather worried about what we are seeing.

@WilsonMilson, Just checking because it sounds likely but I wasn't sure- are you a Cardiologist?

@SeaToSki

I am not a cardiologist but have a lot of personal experience with cardiac issues.

Heart problems are usually either the ‘plumbing’ or the ‘electrics’ and sometimes both.

Plumbing problems lead to heart attacks and insufficient blood being pumped around the body, they are often caused by either malformations in the heart itself which you are born with or a narrowing of the ‘pipes’ brought on by illness/genetics/unhealthy lifestyle

Electrical problems lead to fast, slow or irregular heart rhythms which can be benign or problematic. Many many people have benign irregular heart rhythms, the problem is telling what is which..

The main way to work out if you have a structural/plumbing problem with your heart is via a cardiac ultrasound, know as an echocardiogram.

The main way to work out if you have an electrical problem is via an ECG electrocardiogram. The biggest problem with ECGs is that problem heart rhythms often dont happen all the time, so catching them on tape is difficult.

There is a device you can buy called a Kardia which can record an ECG at home and you can email it to a doctor to look at. I use it to catch my arrthymias and it is very accurate and easy to use with an app and a smart phone.

If you have has one unexplained collapse and no others, the chances are that it was a random event. But if it is worrying you, you can get yourself checked out

WPW syndrome is an electrical problem, so a Kardia might be of help. But the genetically inherited variants they have identified are all dominant. This means that if one of your parents has it, you and all your siblings would have it. If the close relative who has been diagnosed is a sibling, you should definitely get checked. If they are a cousin/aunt you are less likely to have it as likely it would have shown symptoms in one of your siblings and/or parent as well by now.

Hope this is helpful

I have a heart condition I have struggled to understand for years. Your post is the clearest explanation I have seen. Thank you

I agree SeaToSki's explanation was awesome!

Get it investigated Op. Peace of mind is awesome. I only have POTS, so not a hardware issue, but I wish I'd had access to a Cardiologist before!

I had an episode a couple of years ago where my chest felt tight and I felt faint - no collapse even, but the GP did a few tests (ECG etc) anyway. I think they're happy to do "due diligence" as the upside is big I'd they catch something untoward and the tests aren't normally risky.

*if they catch

@SeaToSki

I am not a cardiologist but have a lot of personal experience with cardiac issues.

Heart problems are usually either the ‘plumbing’ or the ‘electrics’ and sometimes both.

Plumbing problems lead to heart attacks and insufficient blood being pumped around the body, they are often caused by either malformations in the heart itself which you are born with or a narrowing of the ‘pipes’ brought on by illness/genetics/unhealthy lifestyle

Electrical problems lead to fast, slow or irregular heart rhythms which can be benign or problematic. Many many people have benign irregular heart rhythms, the problem is telling what is which..

The main way to work out if you have a structural/plumbing problem with your heart is via a cardiac ultrasound, know as an echocardiogram.

The main way to work out if you have an electrical problem is via an ECG electrocardiogram. The biggest problem with ECGs is that problem heart rhythms often dont happen all the time, so catching them on tape is difficult.

There is a device you can buy called a Kardia which can record an ECG at home and you can email it to a doctor to look at. I use it to catch my arrthymias and it is very accurate and easy to use with an app and a smart phone.

If you have has one unexplained collapse and no others, the chances are that it was a random event. But if it is worrying you, you can get yourself checked out

WPW syndrome is an electrical problem, so a Kardia might be of help. But the genetically inherited variants they have identified are all dominant. This means that if one of your parents has it, you and all your siblings would have it. If the close relative who has been diagnosed is a sibling, you should definitely get checked. If they are a cousin/aunt you are less likely to have it as likely it would have shown symptoms in one of your siblings and/or parent as well by now.

Hope this is helpful

Thanks Seatosky, I will look up that Kardia thing! I've read a bit about heart conditions over the past few years as my Dad and brother have both been diagnosed with (different) heart conditions so I knew about the sort of structural/functional signalling distinction but that's a great way of explaining it.

I don't know anything about the charity that pp posted about but if you can get them to investigate I would.
I have electrical and structural issues with mine that were picked up due to an echo and 5 day monitor - an ECG alone didn't really give much away aside from tachycardia.

I have WPW I am a-symptomatic and they found it in on an ECG. I'm not sure what the previous poster said about all siblings having it is true but my cardiologist said hereditary WPW is very rare. This is easily diagnosed in ECG and I would ask for one.

You could have just bonked.

@gottakeeponmovin, that's good to know- my brother wasn't sure from what his cardiologist said.