The heart is an organ that ensures the movement of blood, and hence the transport of oxygen and other nutrients to all tissues. Moderate cardio loads have a beneficial effect on the condition of the heart muscle. However, in order to build a body, a bodybuilder needs to work with maximum and submaximal weights, which can cause a number of health problems.

The myocardium, like any other muscle, needs oxygen to function properly. Excessive exercise increases the need for oxygen in the heart muscle. If the ability to provide the tissues of the heart with oxygen is lower than its needs, diseases of the heart develop. vascular system, such as:

• Hypertension. Persistent Boost blood pressure above 140/90 mm Hg. Art.
• Ischemic heart disease (CHD). Due to a chronic lack of oxygen, the coronary arteries are affected, and the blood supply to the myocardium is disrupted.
• Angina. Chronic form of coronary artery disease. It manifests itself in the form of short-term pain during exercise or stress in the region of the heart, extending under the left shoulder blade or in the left arm.
• Myocardial infarction. Necrosis of the tissues of the heart muscle due to acute insufficiency of blood supply.

Taking fat burners and anabolic steroids, violations of the rules of rational training and stress in Everyday life increase the risk of congestion and heart failure.

We will tell you about what are the drugs for the heart, what is their principle of action and how they differ from each other. But before taking any of them, a full-time consultation with a doctor is necessary.

Adrenoblockers and beta blockers

A group of drugs for the treatment and prevention of hypertension. They block beta-adrenergic receptors and alpha receptors, thereby reducing the precardiac load. Prevent the development of myocardial hypertrophy - reduce heart rate and myocardial oxygen demand. They have a vasodilating effect. Drugs for the heart of this group are Bisoprolol and Carvedilol.

Cardiovascular Metabolism Correctors

This group of drugs is aimed at preventing a decrease in the content of ATP inside the cell. They optimize the processes of energy creation and consumption, normalize the transport of potassium and sodium ions. Reduce the frequency and intensity of angina attacks. Increase the body's resistance to hypoxia - lack of oxygen. This increases performance and endurance. An example is Trimetazidine or Preductal.

Drugs that affect tissue metabolism - angioprotectors

Asparkam, Panangin, Mildronate, Riboxin, Inosine - these and other drugs are aimed at improving the transport function of the blood. By dilating blood vessels and increasing membrane permeability, ion transport improves and swelling decreases. They have anti-sclerotic and antiarrhythmic effects. Stimulate the renewal of ischemic tissue. Increase resistance to hypoxia.

Means based on acetylsalicylic acid can also be attributed to this group. Cardiomagnyl, Aspecard and Aspirin improve the rheological properties of blood (viscosity and fluidity) and microcirculation, and prevent the formation of blood clots. They have anti-inflammatory action.

Herbal adaptogens and nutritional supplements

Tinctures of rhodiola rosea, leuzea, hawthorn and eleutherococcus are natural stimulants of the cardiovascular system and immunity. They normalize blood pressure, improve immunity, increase physical endurance.

Complexes of vitamins and minerals compensate for the lack of nutrients from food. For normal cardiac activity, a sufficient amount of magnesium and potassium is necessary.

Omega-3 fatty acids reduce the level of triglycerides in the blood, stabilize the heart rate, and prevent the development of arrhythmia and tachycardia. Prevent degenerative changes in the brain.

The need for prophylactic medication for the heart is obvious. But like any medicines, they have contraindications, acceptable periods and other nuances of use. The example of gym mates should not be the only and last resort for choosing a drug. Consulting a doctor in matters of heart health is the best prevention of wrong choice and dosage errors. Be healthy!

Irina Tsebenko, specialist in physical rehabilitation, trainer-teacher

205,337 Views

What should an athlete do to improve their strength performance: ignore pharmacy drugs for bodybuilding, preferring natural products or taking them? For the right decision, at least complete and reliable information about the permitted additives, which include the following pharmaceutical preparations, is needed.

Asparkam

The drug contains potassium and magnesium salts of aspartic acid or aspartates. Metal ions support the performance of the heart and the endurance of the body, especially in the summer heat. The tool is used in bodybuilding during the "drying" and relieves athletes from muscle cramps. restores the balance of minerals after magnesium and potassium are excreted due to large volumes of fluids taken to avoid intoxication of the body during intensive training and enhanced protein nutrition. Asparkam is available in the form of tablets. The dosage and regimen of the drug is determined by a sports doctor. He recommends taking 1-2 tablets 3 times a day, preferably in the morning and afternoon.

Mildronate

In bodybuilding, it is used as a cardioprotector that compensates for physical and mental overwork in athletes by restoring their energy reserves. The drug normalizes vascular tone, reducing resistance in the peripheral part of the circulatory system. Mildronate ensures the normal course of metabolic processes and stimulates intracellular immunity. Daily dosage the drug is determined at the rate of 15-20 mg / kg of weight, which averages 1-2 g, taken in 4 doses. The duration of the course is 14 days with a repeat in 2-3 weeks.

Riboxin

As a precursor of adenosine triphosphoric acid (ATP) - universal source energy in the cell, has a complex effect on the bodybuilders:

• increases endurance;
• stimulates regeneration processes in muscle cells;
• strengthens the immune system;
• promotes the synthesis of the hormone insulin and better absorption of glucose;
• stimulates metabolism, especially energy metabolism.

Riboxin can replace ATP. The drug is effective in combination with potassium orotate. It is taken for 1-3 months according to the scheme 0.2 g 3-4 times a day.

Potassium Orotate

Potassium orotate - pharmaceutical for gaining muscle mass. The main purpose of the composition is to strengthen the myocardium. It is used in the treatment of patients with diagnoses: arrhythmia, hypertension, cardiac ischemia. Potassium ororate is available as tablets (500 mg). The drug is taken according to the scheme: one hour before meals, 1 tablet 3-4 times a day. The duration of the treatment course is 21-24 days.

Clenbuterol

One of the best fat burners in bodybuilding, increasing basal metabolic rate by 20-30%. The drug is applied at the stage of drying. It has a powerful anti-catabolic effect, that is, it protects muscle tissue from destruction. It is also characterized as a moderate anabolic. On the initial stage possible side effects in the form of anxiety, insomnia, hand tremors, headaches. The daily dose is 10 mg (1/4 tablet). Gradually, the dosage can be increased to 3 tablets per day. The course of Clenbuterol lasts no more than 2 weeks in order to avoid the development of addiction.

Important! After a two-week break, the course of Clenbuterol can be repeated, but with the use of Ketotifen.

Anastrozole

A drug available in bodybuilders' pharmacies that prevents the conversion of testosterone to estrogen, a process known as the aromatous effect of steroidal anabolics. The action of the drug is manifested in the following effects:

• decrease in the level of female hormones;
• an increase in the level of free testosterone and its natural synthesis;
• an increase in the concentration of anabolic hormones;
• getting rid of signs of gynecomastia (fat deposition according to the female type with a noticeable increase in the mammary glands);
• a set of muscle mass;
• improvement in muscle strength indicators.

With a drop in sexual desire, erectile dysfunction, depressive states, the dose of the drug is reduced.

Tamoxifen

A drug from the group of antiestrogens that block the synthesis of female hormones. stimulates the secretion of testosterone. It acts slowly, so it lasts from 6 to 8 weeks. Tamoxifen has fat-burning properties, increases the density of muscle tissue, therefore it is used during drying. The composition is required to remove excess water that can accumulate when taking anabolic steroids in bodybuilding.

Pentoxifylline

A drug that dilates blood vessels, improves blood circulation and tissue nutrition, but without a significant change in blood pressure levels. is considered one of the best doping drugs in the bodybuilding pharmacy used for pumping. The effect of the drug is manifested an hour after ingestion. In 90% of cases, athletes note a powerful pump lasting several hours. Increases the effect of venousness, fullness, pumping, which is why it is taken by bodybuilders on the eve of going on stage.

With a headache associated with hypotension, mild nausea, tachycardia, redness of the skin, the dosage is reduced or the drug is discontinued. Pentoxifylline is taken before and after training. On average, the regimen is as follows: 3 times / day, 2 tablets (100 mg) for a week. The drug is contraindicated in persons with diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

Agapurin

A vasoactive drug that improves blood microcirculation in muscle tissue and thins the blood. It ensures the fullness of the muscles, the development of a network of capillaries in it, without which pumping and muscle growth of a bodybuilder is impossible.

In bodybuilding, Agapurin is taken according to the scheme:

• on training days 3 times 2 tablets;
• on rest days 3 times 1 tablet.

Duration of the course Agapurin - 20 days. After a 4-week break, the course is repeated. Tablets are washed down with a large volume of water. To avoid side effects, it is forbidden to take the drug without the consent of the doctor.

Glutamic acid

It is a non-essential amino acid component proteins muscle fiber. The drug improves brain activity, which allows you to concentrate on training process. Glutamic acid improves immunity, which is especially important for athletes on the course of anabolic steroids. It promotes the utilization of lactic acid and the recovery of the bodybuilder's muscles on rest days. A quarter of the amino acids that make up protein molecules can be synthesized from glutamic acid.

Levzeya (Maral root)

Leuzea in bodybuilding is used to improve the performance of athletes. Maral root is a mountain plant containing steroids that activate protein biosynthesis. After taking Leuzea tincture, blood vessels dilate, blood pressure drops. A food supplement based on maral root is cheaper than foreign analogues. The drug has no side effects.

Aralia Manchurian

An adaptogen that enhances immunity and performance. Reception of Aralia tincture is accompanied by a decrease in blood glucose levels, the release of somatotropin, a set of muscle mass and an improvement in appetite. Tincture is taken 2-3 times a day in the amount of 20-30 drops. On training days, Aralia Manchurian is taken in the morning and one hour before training. In tablet form, the drug does not stimulate plastic metabolism.

Vitamin complexes

Vitamins are non-protein components of enzymes, they are necessary for biochemical processes, including protein biosynthesis. Without them, weight gain drugs are ineffective.

Of the complex vitamins, the most popular in bodybuilding is Complivit, taken after meals at a dosage of one tablet 3 times a day. When taking vitamins separately, it is especially worth noting the B vitamins:

1. Cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) has a strong anabolic effect.
2. For normal metabolism and work nervous system take pyridoxine or vitamin B.
3. For energy balance, growth and regeneration processes, you will need thiamine or vitamin B.
4. For the functions of hematopoiesis, the exchange of amino acids is responsible for folic acid (vitamin B9). The daily requirement for it is 600 mg.

Attention! B vitamins are injectables. To exclude competition between them, they are pierced separately.

Ascorbic acid resists colds, so for prevention it is taken 3-5 g per day.

Without minerals, nerve impulses are not transmitted, muscles do not contract. Some of them are part of the bone tissue (phosphorus and calcium), others are involved in the production of testosterone, such as zinc. Solutions of mineral salts (electrolytes) fill the cell and intercellular fluid.

Athletes bodybuilders are especially popular with complex preparations with the optimal content of vitamins and minerals for athletes.

Diabeton MV

The drug from the category "anabolics for muscle growth." Diabeton MB is used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Popular with athletes in the off-season to support plastic metabolism. The course starts with one tablet (30 mg) per day taken with breakfast. The duration of the course with Diabeton MB is 1.5-2 months. During this time, the dosage is adjusted to 60 mg (2 tablets). The drug is not combined with other medicines. It is more effective for mass when organizing 6 meals a day with a high content of protein food in the diet of a bodybuilder and a minimum amount of fat.

Warning! Taking Diabeton MB on a low-calorie diet can lead to hypoglycemia.

Saltos

Saltos is a highly effective fat burner, similar in properties to Clenbuterol. The drug stimulates the secretion of the thyroid gland, as well as norepinephrine and adrenaline, which, against the background of an increase in temperature, contributes to the oxidation of fats. Saltos is used in bodybuilding at the drying stage. The daily dose of the drug for weight loss of an athlete weighing 75 kg is 3 tablets in several doses. If well tolerated, the dosage is increased by 2 times. A course lasting 6 weeks is repeated after 1.5 months. Saltos also activates the nervous system, so taking the drug is accompanied by hand tremors, headache, tachycardia and nervousness.

calcium glycerophosphate

Calcium Glycerophosphate weight gain tablets for men are used to improve the condition of patients suffering from overwork, rickets and dystrophy. Activate protein metabolism. The drug increases appetite, to satisfy which it is better to use a high-protein diet. The daily dosage of Calcium Glycerophosphate is 1000 mg with a weight of 80 kg. It is divided into 5 doses of one tablet (200 mg). Time of taking the drug: morning 2 hours before training. The mass course lasts 1.5-2 months.

Trimetazidine

A cheaper analogue of the famous Mildronate. Trimetazidine activates oxidative processes in the cell, accompanied by the release of energy, which increases the athlete's performance, his endurance, and his ability to withstand intense training. Prevents the growth of free radicals. It combines well with other drugs. Trimetazidine has several advantages over creatine-containing formulations.

Vinpocetine

Vinpocetine is a drug that dilates blood vessels, including the brain. Improves nutrition and normalizes metabolism in the brain and muscle tissues. It thins the blood, eliminates the aggregation of platelets, which corrects impaired cerebral circulation. Vinpocetine contributes to tissue resistance to oxygen deficiency. Stimulates glucose oxidation, norepinephrine and serotonin metabolism. The drug is taken an hour before training at a dosage of 5-30 mg. With an overdose of the drug, hand tremor and insomnia are observed.

Excessive exercise affects the heart. Find out why bodybuilders should definitely do cardio to develop the heart muscle.

Strength training can not only have a positive effect on the heart, but also inhibit the work of the organ. First of all, this applies to professional bodybuilding. Some scientists are sure that under the influence of powerful physical exertion, myocardial hypertrophy occurs, which makes it difficult to provide sufficient oxygen supply. However, there are conflicting research findings. However, now we will not find out which group of scientists is right, but rather we will see how to strengthen the heart in bodybuilding.

First, let's say a few words about the most common symptoms of a possible heart pathology:

• Pain in the region of the heart.
• Interruptions in the work of the body.
• Increase in heart rate.

If you have at least one of the above symptoms, you should immediately undergo a medical examination. Now let's talk about some drugs that will help you improve heart function.

Preparations to increase the efficiency of the heart

group of beta blockers

These drugs act on beta receptors located in the tissues of the heart, which leads to a decrease in the number of contractions. This reduces the need for myocardial oxygen supply, and the load on it drops sharply. To date, there is accurate medical evidence that drugs of the beta-blocker group can prolong a person's life.

If a traditional medicine uses these drugs only to reduce blood pressure, then athletes use them to solve more problems:

• Normalization of the pulse - when the pulse often exceeds the normal value, the risk of developing various pathologies increases.
• Together with fat burners - almost all fat burning drugs increase the heart rate and beta blockers can prevent myocardial hypertrophy.
• Together with AAS - similar to the previous paragraph.

When using beta-blockers in bodybuilding, athletes significantly increase their overall well-being. We should also say a few words about one theory that has not been confirmed in clinical trials, but is quite justified from a logical point of view. According to this theory, the heart muscle is programmed for a certain number of contractions. The stronger the heart beats, the shorter will be the life expectancy.

most popular and effective drugs this group are bisoprolol and metoprolol. Their dosage must be selected individually.

Trimetazidine

This drug has a very complex mechanism of action on the body and, if desired, you can learn about it from the instructions for the drug. If you talk about it in a few words, then Trimetazidine affects cardiac metabolism, and also has protective properties. These facts have been proven during scientific research, and there is no point in questioning them. Also, this drug is produced under the Preductal brand, but its cost is much more expensive.

Other cardioprotectors

It should also be remembered about such drugs as Inosine, ATP-Long, Mildronate and Mexior. However, today there is no scientific basis for the effectiveness of their application. At the same time, everything is very beautifully written in the instructions.

Asparkam

One of the most popular medications among those used in bodybuilding. Its main working components are potassium and magnesium. The ions of these minerals have a beneficial effect on the heart, help to reduce the frequency of contractions of the organ and can eliminate convulsions. It has also been proven that under the influence of physical activity, the body's need for potassium and magnesium increases dramatically. For this reason, you should take the courses of Asparkam or its analogue - Panangin.

Plant Based Adaptogens and Nutritional Supplements

Among herbal preparations, attention should be paid to hawthorn, safflower-like leuzea, and also Rhodiola rosea. Also, to protect the heart in bodybuilding, you can use nutritional supplements, say, omega-3 fats, special vitamin-mineral complexes and L-carnitine.

An example of a combined course to improve heart function

Now we will give an example of an excellent course that can strengthen your heart and protect your myocardium.

• Trimetazidine - taken one tablet twice a day with food for 15 to 30 days. It is enough to use this drug once or twice a year.
• Asparkam - taken one tablet three times a day after eating food for 30 days. Repeat the course one to three times a year.
• Rhodiola rosea tincture - taken in an amount of five to ten drops 2 or 3 times a day, about 20 minutes before meals. The duration of the course is from 10 to 20 days, and cycles can be carried out from 2 to 5 times during the year.
• Preparations of the group of beta-blockers - taken 5 milligrams during the day. It is important to choose such a dosage so that the pulse is always within the normal range.
• Mineral and vitamin complexes are taken in accordance with the instructions for a couple of months.
• Omega-3 can be taken continuously as directed.

You should also remember about proper nutrition and include cardio loads in your training program.

How to train the heart muscle, learn from this video.

The totality of processes occurring in the heart from the beginning of one heartbeat to the start of the next beat.

Strength training can negatively affect the state of the cardiovascular system. Many doctors believe that power sports are dangerous for the heart, because they cause excessive overload and hypertrophy of the myocardium without sufficient vascularization. This, in turn, creates a discrepancy between myocardial oxygen demand and the possibilities of its delivery.

At the same time, there is also an opposite opinion. So, for example, the American Heart Association journal, in the article “Pumping Iron Improves Heart Health”, writes that recently the amount of evidence that indicates the opposite has been increasing. The authors believe that natural bodybuilding and fitness has a predominantly positive effect on the heart.

You should not engage in bodybuilding if you have:

• High blood pressure (you can do it only after selecting adequate therapy)
• Heart failure
• Valve insufficiency with regurgitation
• Mitral valve prolapse with regurgitation
• Coarctation of the aorta
• Aneurysms
• Myocarditis
• cardiomyopathy
• Arrhythmia (tachycardia) - you can do it if the rhythm is normal

The first signs of pathology

Even in a state of physiological norm, athletes often begin to notice the first signs of pathological changes in the heart:

• extrasystoles (interruptions)
• increased heart rate

When they appear, you should consult a doctor and conduct a diagnosis, which includes, first of all, Echo-KG and ECG, analysis of cholesterol levels. Non-sports doctors often underestimate the risk to which athletes are exposed, therefore, if pronounced pathological changes have not occurred, therapy is not prescribed, but this is a mistake, since it is much easier to prevent heart pathology than to treat it.

Heart protection drugs

Beta blockers

Beta-blockers are a wide class of adrenomimetic drugs that act on the beta-adrenergic receptors of the heart, thereby causing a decrease in its contractions. In this regard, the myocardial demand for oxygen and nutrients decreases, and overload is eliminated. Beta-blockers are one of the few pharmacological groups that significantly increase life expectancy by reducing the risk of major heart disease.

In medical practice, drugs are most often used to lower blood pressure, but in bodybuilding they are more widely used:

1. To normalize the pulse. If the pulse exceeds the physiological norm (above the permissible level during training, and above 80-90 beats per minute at rest), changes occur in the heart that lead to pathology. This should not be allowed, and beta blockers are great for this.
2. When using fat burners. Thyroxine, ephedrine, clenbuterol, thermogenics and many others increase the heart rate. There is an overload of the heart, which leads to myocardial hypertrophy. Beta-blockers prevent myocardial hypertrophy.
3. When using anabolic steroids. As in the previous case, anabolic drugs cause myocardial hypertrophy.

After taking beta-blockers, the state of health noticeably improves, the pulse normalizes and pains in the heart are eliminated. There is an unscientific theory that is not without meaning. Its essence lies in the fact that the human heart is programmed for a certain number of contractions, respectively, the more often it contracts, the shorter the life expectancy.

The best drugs from this group are Metoprolol (Egilok) 25-50-100 mg and Bisoprolol (Concor, Biprol, Coronal) 2.5-5-10 mg. The dosage is selected individually: the reception begins with a minimum dose, and increases until the pulse at rest is approximately 60 beats per minute - this is the optimal rhythm for the heart. Before use, you need to consult a doctor, there are contraindications. Interestingly, Balkan Pharma has started producing carvedilol, which is also available in pharmacies.

Trimetazidine

It has a complex mechanism of action which can be found in the instructions. In short, Trimetazidine normalizes the metabolism of the heart, improves its nutrition at the cellular level and has a pronounced protective effect, which has been proven by numerous studies. Trade names of Trimetazidine are Preductal, Antisten, Rimecor.

Other cardioprotectors

It is also worth mentioning such drugs for strengthening the heart as Mildronate, Mexicor and Inosine (riboxin), ATP-LONG, however, their effect has a weak evidence base, although everything is very beautiful and well-founded in the manufacturer's description.

Asparkam

Popular medicine in bodybuilding. It is a source of potassium and magnesium. These ions have a positive effect on the heart, reduce the frequency of contractions and eliminate convulsions. It is known that during strength training, the need for magnesium and potassium increases, so it is occasionally recommended to take a course of Asparkam. A similar drug is Panangin.

Herbal adaptogens

Herbal adaptogens also have a cardioprotective effect, especially worth noting:

• Rhodiola rosea
• Leuzea safflower
• Hawthorn

Nutritional supplements

Nutritional supplements can be placed in a separate category as the safest, but they play a very important role in protecting the heart.

• Vitamins and minerals
• Omega 3
• L-carnitine

The effect of protein on the cardiovascular system

It has been found that people who use Whey Protein 8% less likely to develop heart disease. A large controlled study found a decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure over a 24-hour period after supplementation. Levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, blood fats known to increase the risk of heart disease, also dropped.

Lead researcher Agnes Fekete, from the University of Reading, said:

The results of this study are very interesting. This shows the positive impact that milk protein can have on the cardiovascular system. Long-term studies show that people who drink more milk tend to be healthier, but so far there has been no work to answer how milk protein can protect the heart and normalize blood pressure.

Combination course for heart protection

We offer an example of a comprehensive course for bodybuilding athletes aimed at protecting and restoring the myocardium:

• Trimetazidine - 35 mg (1 tab.) 2 times a day during meals in the morning and evening. The duration of therapy is 15-30 days. Enough to drink 1-2 times a year.
• Asparkam - 1 tablet, after meals 3 times a day for 1 month. Repeated 1-3 times a year.
• Rhodiola rosea (tincture) - 5-10 drops 2-3 times a day 20-30 minutes before meals for 10-20 days. Drink 2-5 times a year.
• Beta-blockers - to normalize the pulse, with the use of anabolic steroids and fat burners. Bisoprolol 5 mg/day, if necessary, the dose can be increased to 10 mg/day. The main landmarks are blood pressure, pulse rate. The dosage is selected in such a way that blood pressure remains within the normal range, and the pulse rate decreases to about 60 beats / min at rest. (It should be taken with caution when combined with asparkam, a joint course can cause hyperkalemia and, as a result, arrhythmia.)
• Vitamin-mineral complex - according to the instructions, within 1-2 months. 2-3 times a year.
• Omega-3 - according to the instructions, you can take it on an ongoing basis.

The drugs can be used both together (as part of one course), and separately. A doctor's consultation is required.

Don't forget to do it regularly aerobic training, they promote myocardial vascularization and strengthen the heart. Eat right. Consult with experienced professionals.

Read also

• Moxonidine
• Sports nutrition
• Diet for gaining muscle mass
• Study of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems in the conditions of health and sports training
• Anabolic steroids: side effects on the heart
• Fitness

Medicines that affect the functioning of the heart

Source: "Visual pharmacology".
Author: X. Lyulman. Per. with him. Ed.: M.: Mir, 2008

Ways of influencing the work of the heart’> Mechanism of contraction and relaxation’>

Ways of pharmacological effects on the functions of the heart. The contractile function depends on many factors: with an increase in the frequency of contractions, the strength of contractions increases; the magnitude of diastolic filling regulates the amplitude of contractions (Starling's law). Sympathicus under the influence of norepinephrine, as well as adrenaline, increases contractions (but also oxygen consumption), increases the frequency of contractions and excitability. Parasympatheticus lowers the frequency of contractions, since acetylcholine inhibits pacemaker cells.

It follows from this that all medicinal substances that act on the sympathetic and parasympathetic system can affect the function of the heart. Therapeutic use is found by β-blockers - to reduce sympathetic activity, ipratropium - with sinus bradycardia, etc. Undesirable activation of the sympathetic can be observed with fear, pain and other mental reactions. In such cases, pharmacological prophylaxis with benzodiazepines (diazepam and other drugs) is indicated, which is especially important in myocardial infarction. Ganglioblockers were previously used to relieve hypertensive crisis.

The work of the heart mainly depends on blood circulation: the state of rest or load of the body determines the corresponding power of the heart; the average value of blood pressure is the second decisive factor. Persistently elevated peripheral vascular resistance leads to the development of heart failure. Therefore, all drugs that normalize blood pressure have a positive effect on the heart. Vasodilator drugs (eg nitrates) lower venous return and/or peripheral vascular resistance and thus have a curative effect in angina pectoris or heart failure.

A direct medicinal effect on the cells of the heart muscle is exerted by cardiac glycosides that bind to Na-K-ATPase, calcium antagonists and antiarrhythmics of the group of local anesthetics that bind to the Na-channels of the membrane.

The mechanism of contraction - relaxation

The signal to contract is an action potential propagating from the sinus node. Membrane depolarization causes a sharp increase in Ca2+ concentration in the cytosol, which leads to shortening of contractile fibers (electromechanical conjugation). The higher the Ca2+ concentration, the stronger the contraction. The sources of Ca2+ are extracellular calcium, which enters the cell when Ca channels open, calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), and calcium bound to inside membranes. The plasmalemma of cardiomyocytes is permeated with many tubules that go inside the cell.

The signal for relaxation is the return of the membrane potential to a state of rest. During repolarization, the concentration of Ca2+ falls below the threshold (3 10~7 M): the activity of the Ca-binding zones of the plasma membrane stops; Ca2+ is transported to the sarcoplasmic reticulum; Ca-ATPase pumps Ca2+ with energy expenditure. Next to it is a carrier, which, under the action of the Na+ concentration gradient, transports Ca2+ out of the cell in exchange for Na+ (Na/Ca exchange).

How to keep your heart healthy in bodybuilding

Source:
"Mass or the truth about nutrition, supplements and chemistry in bodybuilding".
Author: Sergey Antonovich publishing house: AS Media Grand, 2012.

The problem of health in bodybuilding is very acute. Plentiful caloric nutrition for muscle building, massive intake sports supplements, abuse of prohibited "chemistry" - all these factors clearly do not contribute to health promotion. But when you want to have big beautiful muscles Health is the last thing you think about and remember about it when you start to lose it.

In this chapter, I will talk about the main health problems that are faced in bodybuilding - these are problems with the liver and with the heart. In conclusion, I will detail how to end the "chemistry" for those who have made this decision, but do not know how to quit properly.

Affairs of the Heart

Heart disease has claimed more lives than all the wars on Earth combined, and to this day, heart disease is the #1 killer in the world. Indefatigable bodybuilding, and indeed any strength sport, is an additional risk factor that exacerbates heart problems. To minimize this risk, read this section on the heart and learn how to keep it healthy and working.

The heart is the most important internal organ of the human body. It performs a very serious function - it is a motor that drives blood throughout the body. Contractions follow one after another completely automatically and almost independently of brain signals. A healthy heart, warmed up to body temperature and filled with blood, will begin to pump it regardless of what is happening around. The heart pumps through itself everything that is in the body, so almost all diseases are cardiac. But, unfortunately, they remember the heart only when it starts to hurt.

Anatomy of the heart

Anatomically, the heart is a muscular organ. Its size is small, approximately the size of a clenched fist. The heart works throughout a person's life. We can say that the heart is a muscular pump that ensures the continuous movement of blood through the vessels. Blood vessels and the heart together make up the cardiovascular system of the human body. It consists of large and small circles of blood circulation. From the left side of the heart, blood first moves through the aorta, then through large and small arteries, arterioles and capillaries. In the capillaries, oxygen and other substances necessary for the body enter the organs and tissues, and carbon dioxide and metabolic products are removed from there. After that, the blood turns from arterial to venous and again begins to move towards the heart.

Inside the heart is divided by partitions into four chambers. The two atria are separated by the atrial septum into the left and right atria. The left and right ventricles of the heart are separated by an interventricular septum. Normally, the left and right sides of the heart are completely separate. The atria and ventricles have different functions. The atria store blood that enters the heart. When the volume of this blood is sufficient, it is pushed into the ventricles. And the ventricles push the blood into the arteries, through which it moves throughout the body. The ventricles have to do more difficult work, so the muscle layer in them is much thicker than in the atria. The atria and ventricles on each side of the heart are connected by the atrioventricular orifice. Blood flows through the heart in only one direction. In a large circle of blood circulation from the left side of the heart (left atrium and left ventricle) to the right, and in a small circle from the right to the left. Right direction provides the valvular apparatus of the heart: tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral and aortic valves.

Why does it hurt?

The heart begins to ache when its own cells lack oxygen. It is called ischemic disease hearts. Oxygen may not be enough for several reasons:

Atherosclerosis. LDL (low-density lipoprotein, or simply bad cholesterol) is deposited on the walls of the arteries and partially blocks the blood flow. If this happens in an artery of the heart, the cells fed by that artery will feel bad.

Thrombosis. An artery can be blocked by a blood clot (thrombus) - with all the ensuing unpleasant consequences. Damage to blood vessels gives a clot an extra chance to cling to your heart.

When the heart has nothing to breathe, it begins to give signals to your body. And he does this with the help of chemistry: the substance bradykinin accumulates in the cells. Thanks to him, the body senses something is wrong and rushes to the aid of its main artery. At this time, the owner of the body feels a strong pressing pain in the middle of the chest, which sometimes radiates to left hand, shoulder blade or chin. Such pain signals that the heart is still somehow coping with the situation. But this is so far...

Heart diseases

The heart, like any human organ, is susceptible to various diseases. However, given that the heart is the motor of the body, all its diseases are extremely dangerous.

Myocardial infarction. One of the most famous and dangerous disorders is myocardial infarction. It consists in the necrosis of a section of the heart muscle due to blockage of one of the vessels on it by a thrombus. As a result of malnutrition, the muscle tissue at the site of the infarction gradually degenerates, dies and is replaced by connective tissue, which subsequently turns into a scar. Blockage can occur due to narrowing of the walls of the vessel.

The immediate cause of myocardial infarction can be severe nervous excitement, physical overstrain, nicotine poisoning, heavy meals, alcohol abuse, and others. All these reasons make your heart work harder, which negatively affects your health. The main symptom of myocardial infarction is an acute sharp pain in the region of the heart (“a dagger strike”), which is characterized by a long duration. AT severe cases the heart can hurt for 2-3 days. Treatment should begin with the creation of conditions for complete physical and mental rest. The best treatment would be in a hospital setting. Therefore, if a heart attack occurred outside the home, regardless of the patient's condition, after providing him with first emergency care, he should be taken to the hospital. Nutrition should be minimal in the early days and consist of easily digestible foods. After that, you can increase the amount of food. After a month and a half, you can be allowed to get up and walk. As a preventive measure, the person who has had a heart attack should be protected from physical and nervous overstrain, and the use of nicotine and alcohol should be prohibited.

angina pectoris. Angina pectoris (or "angina pectoris") is also quite common. It consists in an attack of severe pain in the heart, resulting from a spasm of the coronary arteries. The cause of the development of an attack can be strong excitement, fear, physical overstrain, abuse of tobacco or alcohol.

Tachycardia. Unfortunately, today such a disease as tachycardia is common. It consists in periodic sharp attacks of palpitations, in which the number of heart beats reaches 200-250 per minute, although the rhythm of contractions remains correct. Attacks are usually transient, although they can rarely last for 1-2 days. This usually happens after or during mental overstrain or physical overwork. An attack can occur even in a healthy person, suddenly, with a feeling of pain in the region of the heart or a strong heartbeat. The jugular veins swell, the skin turns pale. During such an attack, a person may develop acute heart failure, which usually disappears when the tachycardia ends. However, several of these attacks increase the risk of a heart attack.

arterial hypertension. Hypertension as an increase in blood pressure is one of the most widespread cardiovascular diseases. It is important to remember that arterial hypertension is not only an independent disease, but also one of the factors of coronary heart disease. The insidiousness of the disease is that it can proceed unnoticed by the patient himself. A person is disturbed by headaches, irritability, dizziness, memory worsens, working capacity decreases. After resting, he temporarily ceases to feel these symptoms and, taking them for manifestations of ordinary fatigue, does not go to the doctor for years. Over time, hypertension progresses. Headaches and dizziness, mood swings become constant. Significant impairment of memory and intelligence, weakness in the limbs are possible.

Hypertension affects people at the most productive age, is characterized by a long and persistent course, the development of severe complications (myocardial infarction, cerebral stroke, heart and kidney failure), accompanied by a decrease in working capacity up to disability. Like any chronic illness, hypertension can be corrected only under the condition of constant and competent therapy, and also requires a conscious change in lifestyle from the patient. Only a combination of these two factors allows you to maintain optimal blood pressure, and therefore maintain good health and performance for many years.

Hypertension develops 6 times more often in those who eat irrationally, abuse fatty and salty foods, alcohol and are overweight. Stressful situations also play a significant role. To stabilize your blood pressure, you need to bring your weight back to normal, start leading an active life, give up bad habits, eat rationally and minimize stress.

How to save your heart

The determining factors of an unhealthy heart are not so much age as heredity and lifestyle. It is better if no one in the family suffers from heart disease, and you yourself do not drink, do not smoke, and constantly engage in sports and fitness for health purposes. If this is not about you, then it's time to take care of heart health, without putting it off until a critical situation.

• DISCOVER SMOKING. Smoking increases the level of bad LDL cholesterol at the expense of good HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein). In addition, nicotine causes tachycardia, which increases the oxygen consumption of the heart. At the same time, other components of tobacco smoke bind up to 10% of hemoglobin, reducing the flow of life-giving oxygen to starving cells. Therefore, it is not enough to quit smoking on your own. You will have to convince others to do this as well. Passive smoking also has a negative effect on the heart.

• MOVE. Physical inactivity - a sedentary lifestyle - is one of the factors that have a harmful effect on the heart. But just two hours of intense movement a week is enough to reduce the risk of heart disease by 10%. What you will do at this time (walk, run, jump, swim, swing) is up to you - the main thing is not to ignore physical activity.

• GET RID OF EXCESS WEIGHT. The main thing is to lose weight to normal. The norm is approximately equal to your height minus a hundred. By reducing your weight to the cherished figure, you reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, or at least slow down its progression. Besides overweight- these are extra millimeters of mercury in your vessels, and even jokes are bad with pressure. Get rid of extra pounds and get a head start of at least 4 years without a heart attack.

• DRINK. Just not strong alcoholic drinks! Replace them with 2-3 liters of plain water. This is how you avoid dehydration. A lack of fluid can make the blood thicker, which means more prone to clot formation. 5-10 glasses of water a day will dilute it and make it more fun to run through the vessels.

• NO STRESS! Stress is not the best helper of the heart. First of all, stress is the release of adrenaline, which means a more intense work of the heart and an increased need for cells in oxygen. All this increases the risk of a heart attack by 3 times.

If you have heart problems, you must follow these recommendations:

EXCLUDE	NECESSARY
Nicotine, alcohol	News healthy lifestyle life
Eating salty, spicy, fatty, fried and stale foods	Eat rationally and properly (see the nutrition table), especially if medication is timed with food
Gain extra pounds, lead a sedentary lifestyle	Move more. Walking, swimming, activities are especially useful therapeutic gymnastics, cardio training and health fitness
Excessive stress in sports and fitness. Exclude power sports with extreme load (weightlifting, powerlifting, bodybuilding)	While doing any sport, train only in gentle and moderate modes. The best alternative power types sport is wellness fitness
Working nights, sleeping less than 7 hours a night	Full rest at night for at least 7 hours. If possible, rest in the middle of the day for 1-2 hours
Stress over trifles	To be able to switch, not to "go in cycles" in troubles, if possible, do yoga, qigong, tai chi, auto-training and meditation
Skip or stop taking medicines prescribed by a doctor, try medicines that "helped" a neighbor

	LIMIT USE	REMOVE FROM USE
Eat food fresh, raw, boiled, baked, stewed (depending on the category of food)	Reheated and defrosted food	Fried, stale food
Fresh herbs, vegetables and fruits (preferably local in season)	Imported and frozen vegetables and fruits	Canned, pickled, smoked, spicy and salty foods, foods high in dyes and preservatives
Kashi (oatmeal, buckwheat, millet, barley, brown rice), bran whole grain bread (preferably yeast-free)	Yeast bread from flour of the 1st grade, pasta from whole grains	Pasta (from premium flour), white rice, semolina, bread from premium flour, muffins, cakes, pastries
Vegetable and vegetarian soups	Bitter chocolate, lean pastries, jelly	Milk chocolate, sweets, sweets with various fillings, ice cream
Fish, poultry, lean meats boiled, stewed and baked		Sausages, salami, sausages, dumplings, fatty minced meat
Low-fat varieties of cottage cheese, cheese and dairy products	Homemade cheese and cottage cheese, butter (preferably ghee), low-fat sour cream	Fatty and hard cheeses, margarine and vegetable fat, mayonnaise, full fat sour cream, whole milk
Natural juices, weak tea, decoctions of wild rose, hawthorn, homemade kvass	White and red dry wines	Strong alcoholic drinks
Purified water (depending on weight, physical activity and season, from 1 to 3 liters)	Table mineral water	Carbonated drinks, packaged juice, tap water

You need to eat small meals 4-5 times a day. Avoid extreme hunger. In no case do not overeat and eliminate the bad habit of eating tightly at night.

Facts about the heart

• According to the latest recommendations of the World Health Organization in 1999, a blood pressure level below 130/85 is considered normal. A blood pressure level between 130/85 and 140/90 and above is considered hypertension.
• Only measuring the pulse on the wrist gives a true picture of heart contractions. Attempts to measure the pulse on the neck are erroneous. Pressure on the cervical artery disrupts the heart rate.
• The heart has a right and a left side. The left is stronger than the right and larger. This is due to the fact that it is the contraction of this part of the heart that leads to the circulation of blood throughout the body. Right part responsible only for the blood supply to the lungs.
• The heart is 12.7 cm high and 7.5 cm wide. It weighs approximately 310 g in men and 240 g in women.
• The average heart rate is 72 beats per minute. This means that by the age of 65, the heart beats 2,500,000,000 times.
• Between contractions, the heart rests. If you add up all these moments of rest, it turns out that during a human life the heart is “silent” for about 20 years.
• The total length of all blood vessels in the body is 3 times the length of the earth's equator.
• Adipose tissue is permeated with countless blood capillaries. An extra 10 kg of adipose tissue forces the heart to make extra efforts to push blood through these capillaries, the total length of which is 8,000 km!
• In 1 cubic millimeter of blood - 4.5-5.5 million red blood cells. They are continuously formed in the body and are completely replaced in the blood after 120 days.
• The total circulation cycle in the body takes 23 seconds.
• If it weren't for the valves inside the blood vessels that keep the blood inside, it would flow down the legs to the feet under the influence of gravity in a matter of fractions of a second.
• Boxer is knocked down after hard hit in the stomach due to the fact that the blood drains sharply from the heart, lungs and brain, moving to the press area. This leads to temporary clouding of consciousness.
• Most heart attacks happen on Mondays between 7 and 10 am.
• Heart disease has claimed more lives than all the wars on earth combined.

Aerobic workouts are the best workouts for the heart

While doing bodybuilding, do not forget about aerobic training. Thanks to them, you will get rid of excess fat, but most importantly - with them you will keep your heart healthy.

Here is what “Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler: “I regularly do cardio to keep my heart healthy. After all, if there is no health, then why do you need your mass?

This is not an exhaustive list of facts about the benefits for of cardio-vascular system aerobic exercise:

• Aerobic exercise—walking, running, swimming, cycling, etc.—sets the heart's biological clock back. They are able to rejuvenate the heart by 20 years!
• The goal of aerobic training is to force the lungs to enrich the blood with more oxygen. Further, oxygen, together with the blood, enters the muscles, where it is used for energy.
• Aerobics increases the oxygen content in the blood. However, at least 2 months of training is needed before such changes occur. One of the best types of aerobic training for athletes is sprinting.
• Aerobic training in the first 1-2 weeks leads to a decrease in heart rate at rest by 1 beat per minute.
• A person walks about 140,000 km in his life. Walking is a natural form of aerobic exercise that supports high tone hearts.
• Cardiac training with light restorative loads after a heart disease guarantees fixing the results of treatment for at least 2 years.
• Swimming is one of the best views heart training. In addition, it eliminates fat deposits.
• Running workouts make resting heart beats not only rarer, but more powerful.
• According to scientists, the best result is aerobic training 3-4 times a week for 15-60 minutes. Heart rate level -60-90% of maximum (220 minus age expressed in years).
• Sex is the safest and most enjoyable form of aerobic exercise.

Heart disease and steroids

Cardiovascular disease, almost mandatory for security officials, allowed scientists to say with accuracy: steroids damage the heart. Today they have identified at least four mechanisms of such traumatic impact.

• In the first place is the decrease under the influence of taking steroids, the so-called. high-density lipoproteins that prevent cholesterol from “sticking together” into clots and being deposited on the walls of blood vessels.
• On the second - "thickening of the blood", i.e. increasing its coagulability. As a result, the risk of a heart attack increases sharply due to blockage of the coronary artery by a thrombus.
• Among the third most dangerous factor, scientists include unexpected (not yet explained by science) spasms of the coronary artery itself, when it suddenly contracts, blocking the access of blood to the heart.
• In fourth place is direct damage to cardiac muscle tissue by steroids.

This list includes only the most obvious risk factors, but in addition to them, there are also indirect consequences of taking steroids, which can also cause heart attacks and heart disease. In particular, steroids increase the concentration of sodium in the body (this, in fact, is associated with water retention in the muscles typical of steroids). Well, sodium leads to an increase in blood pressure. True, after stopping the use of steroids, the pressure returns to normal. However, those who take steroids are constantly living under the "Sword of Damocles" of a heart attack. Super-powerful physical effort in conditions of high blood pressure at any time can overstrain the heart muscle and lead to its rupture.

Steroids allow you to train as powerfully as possible. This type of training is extremely stressful for the whole organism. Trying to defend itself, the body increases the secretion of the so-called. stress hormones from the adrenal glands. Among them is epinephrine, which is known to cause abnormal heart rhythms. If the presence of epinephrine in the blood becomes almost a daily norm, a stable deregulation of the heart rhythm develops - arrhythmia. Pain in the heart, interruptions in the heart, lack of air, sudden attacks of weakness - these are typical signs of arrhythmia in bodybuilders. Worst of all, this type of arrhythmia rarely resolves with discontinuation of steroids. It is worth adding that in the ranking of deaths, arrhythmia is in one of the first places.

Arrhythmia today is treated quite successfully with drugs called beta-blockers. However, in practice, the picture of cardiac arrhythmias is so diverse that it is quite likely that a doctor who is not familiar with the specifics of taking steroids will make a wrong diagnosis. In this case, taking beta-blockers will only mask the underlying disease.

Here is an example from life. A bodybuilder came to the clinic with a complaint of heart palpitations. It would be logical to assume an arrhythmia, especially since the bodybuilder admitted that he had been taking Winstrol 280 mg weekly for 2 years. However, a deep examination of the heart did not confirm the initial diagnosis. It turned out that the bodybuilder had dangerously narrowed two main coronary arteries, including the left descending one, which is associated with heart attacks. In addition, it was found that the bodybuilder had already suffered two microinfarctions. It is logical to assume that the narrowing of the lumen of the arteries is associated with deposition on their inner walls cholesterol. Meanwhile, the blood test turned out to be surprisingly favorable: the cholesterol level was normal. Then what's the matter? Apparently, steroids caused a decrease in the level of protective high-density lipoproteins that prevent cholesterol clots from “sticking” to the wall. coronary arteries. Under these conditions, even normal cholesterol levels proved to be dangerous.

As for microinfarcts, they may be associated with the direct toxic effects of steroids on the cells of the heart muscle. Modeling of such processes in vitro, i.e., in a test tube, showed that under the influence of steroids, individual internal cell structures grow so much that they literally "explode" the cell from the inside. This leads to the formation of foci of dead tissue and their subsequent scarring, i.e., the degeneration of elastic muscle tissue into connective tissue, which is not able to contract. Difficult contraction of individual sections of the heart muscle leads to a distortion of the entire heart rhythm, i.e., to arrhythmia. In the worst case scenario, the ventricles of the heart will stop pumping blood altogether, and then fatal outcome inevitable. Both injections and tablet steroids cause such changes in the heart. However, there is a relatively small difference between tablets and injections. Injections practically do not lower the level of high-density "good" lipoproteins in the blood. And steroids in pills do it. Nevertheless, both of them have an equally negative effect on blood viscosity. The reason is that they increase the production of erythropoitin by the kidneys, which in turn increases the amount of red blood cells in the blood.

In this sense, injecting yourself with erythropoietin, which is extremely common in bodybuilding today, is a deadly practice.

Athletes inject erythropoietin to raise the number of oxygen-carrying red blood cells. As a result, much more oxygen is delivered to the muscles - the catalyst for all biochemical reactions. If you inject yourself with erythropoin at the same time as steroids, it is possible to "thicken" the blood to a critical limit, followed by death.

The main danger when taking steroids

Of course, androgens are necessary for the body - they regulate hormonal processes. But an overabundance of androgens threatens disaster. Taking anabolic steroids (whether prescription or unauthorized) puts a strain on your cardiovascular system. The fact is that even in small therapeutic doses, anabolics change the ratio of "good" and "bad" cholesterol in the blood. This “imbalance” increases the risk of cardiovascular disease by 6 times! "Bad" cholesterol is low-density lipoprotein (LDL). They easily form clots that settle on the walls of blood vessels. Over time, the clots become larger until they block the bloodstream, like a cork: atherosclerosis develops - the main cause of a heart attack. And “good” cholesterol (high-density lipoproteins) just interferes with this. So, analyzes have shown that bodybuilders taking steroids have “bad” cholesterol increased by more than 30% (see the table “The effect of steroids on the cardiovascular system”). In addition to this, anabolics increase the activity of a special liver enzyme, under the influence of which the level of “good” cholesterol decreases.

The effect of steroids on the cardiovascular system (used real stories diseases of bodybuilders)

		ANABOLIC STEROID
Heart failure		oxymesterone
Myocarditis		species unknown
Myocardial infarction with ventricular tachycardia		species unknown
myocardial infarction		nandrolone, boldenone, testosterone-cyplonate, stanozolol, oxandrolone
Thrombosis of the venous sinus		testosterone, metholonone, trenbolone
Myocardial infarction with cerebral hemorrhage		species unknown
Decreased HDL levels, increased diastolic blood pressure		nandrolone, testosterone, stanozolol
Increasing LDL levels, decreasing HDL levels		methandrostenolone, oxandrolone decanoate, stanozolol, etc.
Decreased HDL levels, increased liver enzyme activity		stanozolol
		stanozolol, methenolone, depot-testosterone, deca-durabolin, oxandrolone, androstenolone
Increased clumping of platelets		testosterone esters, nandrolone, methandrostenolone, etc.
Decrease in HDL, increase in LDL		ethinyltestosterone
Decreased HDL levels		methandrostenolone, stanozolol, nandrolone, oxandrolone, testosterone

But even more unpleasant is that such a picture persists for many months after a person has stopped taking steroids. And this means that he will be threatened with atherosclerosis for a long time. If in this state a person receives an injury that is accompanied by a hemorrhage, for example, a fracture, then dead blood cells (platelets) under the influence of “bad” cholesterol will begin to stick together into clots. If such a clot begins an independent "journey" through the blood vessels, expect trouble. Once in a narrow duct, such a clot clogs it tightly. Death in such cases is instantaneous.

I am sure that the debate about the dangers of steroids will not subside for a long time. No matter what anyone says, the medical facts are relentless: steroids are dangerous. I agree it's not poison. However, the catch is that steroids are preparing a catch for you where you least expect it. The risk of cardiovascular disease alone is worth it! Of course, many are lucky. They take steroids and do not complain about their health. Unlucky units. But where is the guarantee that you are not one of them?

How diet in bodybuilding affects the heart Few people know, but food puts a lot of stress on the heart. Just for this reason, all gluttons are cores. Heavy training in bodybuilding makes the heart work at its limit. In order not to overexert it, you need to eat very little. The strong men of the past did exactly the opposite, and therefore rarely one of them lived to be 40 years old ...

But at the same time, in order to build up a large muscle mass you have to eat a lot. And how to be in this case? How to eat in such a way that you can gain mass and at the same time save your heart? Here's how professional bodybuilder Chris Cook solves this problem.

Chris Cook:“In the off-season, I increase the intensity of training in steps. Cycles last 1.5-2 months. So, at the beginning sports nutrition I don't eat at all. But during the period of heavy loads, I replace every second meal with sports products.

The fact is that when you swing a lot, there is absolutely no appetite. It is understandable. The body spends so much energy on training that they do not remain at all for digestion. This is where the body needs help. Easiest to digest liquid food, so instead of every second meal I take a protein-carbohydrate shake. At the same time, the breaks between meals should be delayed up to 2.5-3 hours. The intestines are barely moving as it is, so it needs more time to do its job.”

Help your heart - the best supplements In addition to the fact that to strengthen the cardiovascular system you need to get rid of excess weight, eat less fatty foods and more vegetables and fruits, as well as exercise wisely and without overexertion exercise, you need to pay attention to the following nutritional supplements:

• cholesterol-reducing - alfalfa, soy protein;
• blood pressure-lowering omega-3 fatty acids, garlic supplements;
• strengthening the heart muscle and generally contributing to the healing of the heart - hawthorn, carnitine, coenzyme Q10, creatine.

It is advisable to take these supplements not all together, but selectively, depending on your goals. And stick to the recommended dosages from the manufacturing companies.

Just remember that these nutritional supplements will not have the desired effect if you do not eat right and lead sedentary image life. A positive result is achieved only when all these factors interact.

I want to talk about creatine and how it can help the heart separately.

Muscle cells actively store creatine inside themselves, since it is the source of the ATP compound already known to us. Taking creatine as a dietary supplement naturally leads to increased strength and endurance. If creatine helps skeletal muscles, can't he help the heart? After all, the heart is one big muscle. Science answers this question in the affirmative. With age, and also due to heavy physical exertion, our kidneys begin to work worse, and therefore the level of the amino acid homocysteine, which is very harmful to the heart, increases in the blood. And there is nowhere to get away from it, because it is formed in the process of exchange essential amino acid methionine. Creatine, acting in conjunction with B vitamins, significantly reduces the level of homocysteine. Take 2-3 g of creatine before and after training, as well as 2-5 g on rest days. For creatine to help your heart, take it with "fast" carbs. They cause the secretion of the hormone insulin, which helps the delivery of creatine into the muscle cells.

Read also

• Vasodilators (vasodilators)
• Nitrogen donators
• ACE inhibitors
• Antispasmodics
• cardiac glycosides
• Arrhythmia treatment

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The doctor prescribed me, I came across an article that can be used with benefit for training (of course, a dubious benefit). How to take anaprilin for bodybuilding?

http://muscal.ru/sov...odibilding.html

Any beginner athlete bodybuilder it will be interesting to know which stimulants can be used most effectively. So called beta blockers stimulate the sympathetic nervous system. As a result of the use of this stimulant, the heartbeat is reduced. And heart rate is influenced by many factors.

For example, snipers catch moments when the heart is contracting - this is the perfect time to shoot. That is, it turns out that the interval between heartbeats increases. This means that the blood begins to circulate more slowly throughout the body, respectively, the muscles do not develop. But there is also another side. Human body is a very complex mechanism, the possibilities of which have not yet been fully explored. As soon as the beta-blocker slows down the contractions of the heart, a click immediately occurs in the body, that is, the brain turns on the protective function, a kind of compensator, there are more beta receptors, just they make it clear to the heart that muscles and organs need to be fed with blood. Once bodybuilder ceases to take these stimulants, then the number of receptors begins to grow, nothing can hold them back, the sympathetic nervous system begins to react even more strongly to all processes occurring in the body and notify the brain in time, and endurance also grows accordingly.

But you should not get too carried away with this drug either, because there may be side effects and possibly habituation. There are also contraindications, for example, it is impossible to use a stimulant for people who have heart problems, patients with diabetes mellitus and bronchitis. In general, before you start taking, you need to consult a doctor. In another way, it is called the "hormone of the winners." Such an effect on the heart should not be permanent. Certainly in some degree it can be beneficial, but if you know the measure. As soon as you have achieved certain shifts, then it is better to put such a stimulant aside. In principle, any chemical action on internal organs the body cannot pass without a trace, especially if this effect is regular. Many bodybuilders took beta-blockers and feel great, they were able to tame their body and direct all the power in a useful direction for themselves. The drug can be purchased at a pharmacy. If you still decide to start taking, then before that, talk again with your trainer and your doctor. Beta blocker and bodybuilding can get along if you approach the matter wisely.

Strength training has a great influence on the functioning of the cardiovascular system. However, the opinions of doctors differ in many respects. So, many argue that it is bodybuilding that has a negative effect on the work of the heart. Firstly, this is due to heavy loads, secondly, myocardial hypertrophy without vascularization, and thirdly, the constantly elevated blood pressure of athletes after physical exertion leads to the development of heart failure.

At the same time, there is another opinion. Modern research proves that bodybuilding only positively affects the functioning of the heart. But in any case, everyone needs to carry out prevention and strengthen the heart, and athletes especially. Today we will look at drugs that strengthen the heart of bodybuilders.

• Contraindications to strength training
• Preparations
• Herbal preparations
• Vitamins and nutritional supplements
• Recommendations for Strengthening and Protecting the Heart

Let's start with the fact that bodybuilding is not for everyone. Among the athletes who are contraindicated power loads, include people with high blood pressure, heart failure, aneurysm, myocarditis, arrhythmias, and tachycardia. In addition, if a person has coarctation of the aorta, mitral valve prolapse, or valve insufficiency with regurgitation, then power loads are also contraindicated.

However, there are times when absolutely healthy bodybuilders begin to notice that their normal pulse quickens, interruptions in work and the heart and pain in the heart region begin. This suggests that the first signs of pathological changes in the heart are observed. In such cases, you should immediately consult a doctor for diagnosis. Remember that any disease, especially the pathology of the heart, is easier to prevent and prevent than to treat.

Preparations for strengthening the heart of bodybuilders.

• Riboxin. Thanks to this tool, the supply of oxygen to the heart is enhanced. Riboxin is also needed to improve blood supply, normalize the heart rhythm and strengthen the myocardium. For athletes, this cardiovascular remedy will also be useful because it enhances protein synthesis in muscles and has a positive effect on energy processes in the heart. Riboxin should be taken from 1 to 4 months 3-4 times a day before meals;

• Trimetazidine is better known as Preductal, but this brand name is more expensive. This drug is necessary to protect the heart, normalize the metabolism of the heart and improve the nutrition of the heart at the cellular level. Take 35 mg for 15-30 days with meals 2 times a day;

• Asparkam is a drug that is based on a combination of magnesium and potassium. Content is popular among bodybuilders. Askarkam is used to reduce cardiac contractions, eliminate convulsions, and reduce the manifestation of arrhythmias. As an additional action, the work of the digestive tract improves. It is necessary to drink the course, taking Asparkam 3 times a day after meals for 1 month;

• The most popular and widest class of adrenomimetic agents are beta-blockers. Bisoprolol and Metoprolol are recognized as the most effective. They help eliminate congestion, lower blood pressure, normalize the pulse so that it does not exceed the physiological norm. With the use of fat burners or anabolic steroids, the load on the heart increases, which causes myocardial hypertrophy. The use of beta blockers helps prevent this. Bodybuilders note that after regular use of beta-blockers, the pulse normalizes and overall well-being improves. In addition, this tool increases longevity, as it reduces the risk of the most common heart diseases. However, without the recommendation of a doctor, this drug is not recommended, so be sure to consult a specialist, as there are contraindications.

There are also herbal preparations for strengthening the heart, which are prescribed to athletes for prevention and treatment.

Hawthorn reduces the heart rate, increases coronary blood flow, dilates the vessels of the brain and heart. It also increases heart strength. Hawthorn extract for bodybuilders is also useful in that it normalizes sleep, relieves nervous excitement and lowers blood cholesterol levels.

Rhodiola rosea is the most effective herbal preparation that improves heart function. This herbal adaptogen improves the contractility of the heart. The healing properties of Rhodiola rosea have a tonic effect on the entire body as a whole, regular intake of phyto-tea from Rhodiola has a positive effect on the size of cellular mitochondria, which are necessary for oxygen respiration of cells.

Leuzea safflower is a drug necessary to normalize the functioning of the heart, dilate blood vessels and increase the lumen of the bloodstream. In addition, it can help reduce the heart rate.

Vitamins and nutritional supplements to strengthen the heart.

For preventive purposes, you should always take vitamins, minerals, Omega-3 and L-carnitine. These nutritional supplements have a positive effect on the work of the heart muscle, help the body cope with pathological processes and ailments.

For the proper functioning of the heart, it is necessary to remove harmful cholesterol, toxins and toxins. To do this, you need to take antioxidants and the necessary amount of vitamins, as well as magnesium, calcium, potassium and selenium. Vitamin C is the strongest antioxidant. Of course, special attention should be paid to the diet - you can read how to eat for a bodybuilder on our website. However, vitamin complexes are also necessary, because daily rate the intake of vitamins and minerals in bodybuilders is higher than usual.

In addition, for heart health, protecting the body from free radicals, preventing atherosclerosis and reducing blood viscosity, you need to drink vitamin E. Another vitamin that is good for the heart is vitamin A. It strengthens the walls of blood vessels and helps to eliminate cholesterol. B vitamins (B3, B5, B6) carry out the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Don't forget about minerals. For example, magnesium normalizes blood pressure and prevents blood clots from forming. Potassium is necessary for building cell walls, as well as for increasing endurance and lowering blood pressure.

• Watch your diet. It must be varied. Try to avoid foods high in bad cholesterol. Include fresh fruits, vegetables, cereals, nuts, liver, dried fruits in the diet;
• Stop smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages. This will help you avoid an increase in oxygen consumption by the heart and reduce the amount of bad cholesterol in the body;
• Move as much as possible, play sports, swim. It is also necessary to get rid of excess weight;
• Drink 2-3 liters of fluid per day. It is best that it be plain water, green tea, morses. This will help you avoid dehydration and blood clots;
• Forget about stress. Protracted depression or chronic stress is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder, which increases the risk of a heart attack by 3 times.

bisoprolol- β-adrenergic blocking agent, widely used in cardiology practice. Indications for the appointment of bisoprolol are arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart failure, heart rhythm disturbances. Bisoprolol is on the WHO List of Essential Medicines needed for a basic health system.

The idea of ​​selective beta1-blockade arose after the discovery in 1967 of two subtypes of adrenergic receptors: b1-adrenergic receptors and b2-adrenergic receptors. Bisoprolol belongs to the group of selective beta1-blockers. Among the currently known selective beta1-blockers, it is characterized by high selectivity and potency.

pharmachologic effect

It has a hypotensive, antiarrhythmic, antianginal effect. In therapeutic doses, it does not have internal sympathomimetic activity and clinically significant membrane-stabilizing properties.

By blocking beta1-adrenergic receptors of the heart, reducing the formation of cAMP from ATP stimulated by catecholamines, it reduces the intracellular current of Ca2 + ions, slows down the heart rate (HR), inhibits conduction, and reduces myocardial contractility. With increasing doses, it has a beta2-blocking effect. In the first 24 hours after the appointment, it reduces cardiac output, increases OPSS, which after 1-3 days returns to the original.

The antianginal effect is due to a decrease in myocardial oxygen demand as a result of a decrease in heart rate and a decrease in contractility, a prolongation of diastole, and an improvement in myocardial perfusion.

The antiarrhythmic effect is determined by the inhibitory effect on arrhythmogenic factors; inhibits impulse conduction in the antegrade and, to a lesser extent, in the retrograde directions through the AV node and along additional pathways.

The hypotensive effect is also due to a decrease in the activity of the renin-angiotensin system (does not directly correlate with changes in plasma renin activity).

In therapeutic doses, it does not have a cardiodepressive effect, does not affect glucose metabolism and does not cause sodium ion retention in the body.

The maximum effect develops 1-3 hours after ingestion and lasts for 24 hours.

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption - 80-90%, food intake does not affect absorption, time to reach Cmax - 2-4 hours, protein binding - 26-33%, biotransformation in the liver, T1 / 2 - 9-12 hours, excretion - by the kidneys - 50 % unchanged, less than 2% in faeces. Permeability through the BBB and the placental barrier is low, secretion with breast milk is low.

Indications

Arterial hypertension; ischemic heart disease (angina pectoris), arrhythmia. It is prescribed for patients with chronic heart failure in combination with other drugs (ACE inhibitors, diuretics, cardiac glycosides).

Dosage and administration

Tablets should be taken orally without chewing, with a small amount of liquid. It is recommended to take bisoprolol in the morning on an empty stomach or during breakfast. The maximum dose for adults is 20 mg / day.

If there are no other indications, then 10 mg of bisoprolol is prescribed to patients with arterial hypertension and coronary heart disease once a day. At the beginning of treatment, a dose of 5 mg may be prescribed. Exceeding the dose is justified only in exceptional cases. In any case, the dosage is selected individually, primarily taking into account the success of the treatment and the pulse rate.

In patients with impaired liver or kidney function in mild or moderate form, as well as elderly patients, dose adjustment is usually not required. For patients with severe renal dysfunction (creatinine clearance less than 20 ml / min) and patients with severe liver dysfunction, a daily dose of 10 mg of bisoprolol should not be exceeded.

Bisoprolol is prescribed to patients with moderate to severe chronic heart failure with reduced systolic function (ejection fraction less than or equal to 35% according to echocardiography), who are in a state of stabilization without exacerbation during the last six weeks. You should not change therapy with previously prescribed drugs for at least two weeks before taking bisoprolol. Bisoprolol is prescribed to patients with chronic heart failure in combination with an ACE inhibitor (or other vasodilator in case of intolerance to ACE inhibitors), a diuretic and, if necessary, a cardiac glycoside. In the treatment of chronic heart failure, the following dosing regimen is recommended: the initial dose of bisoprolol is 1.25 mg once a day for the first week. During the second week of admission, 2.5 mg per day is prescribed. In the third week of treatment, the dosage is 3.75 mg per day. From the fourth to the eighth week of admission, 5 mg is prescribed. Then the dose is increased to 7.5 mg (from the eighth to the twelfth week). After the twelfth week of treatment, the maximum dosage is prescribed - 10 mg. The doctor can adjust the dosing regimen depending on individual tolerance. After starting treatment with bisoprolol at a dose of 1.25 mg, a patient with chronic heart failure should be examined within 4 hours (blood pressure, heart rate, conduction disturbances, worsening symptoms of heart failure).

The occurrence of side effects may prevent patients from prescribing the maximum recommended dose. If necessary, the achieved dosage can be gradually reduced. Treatment can be stopped, if necessary, and then resumed in the same way. In case of development of intolerance or worsening of symptoms of heart failure during the process of increasing the dose, it is recommended to first reduce the dose of bisoprolol or stop taking the drug immediately (in case of severe hypotension, worsening symptoms of heart failure, accompanied by acute pulmonary edema, cardiogenic shock, bradycardia or atrioventricular blockade) .

Overdose

In case of an overdose of bisoprolol, manifested by bradycardia, arterial hypotension, heart failure, bronchospasm, or a threatening slowing of the heart rate, treatment with bisoprolol should be discontinued.

Treatment - symptomatic therapy, gastric lavage and prescription activated carbon: with AV blockade - intravenous administration of 1-2 mg of atropine, if necessary - intravenous administration of epinephrine, a temporary pacemaker. With arterial hypotension - Trendelenburg position, dobutamine, dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, isoprenaline (to maintain chronotropic and inotropic action and treat severe hypotension); if there are no signs of pulmonary edema - intravenous plasma-substituting solutions. With convulsions - intravenous administration of diazepam; with bronchospasm - beta-agonists inhalation.

Contraindications

Bisoprolol should not be used for: shock, atrioventricular blockade II and III degree, sick sinus syndrome, severe sinoatrial blockade, bradycardia (pulse less than 50 beats per minute), severe hypotension (systolic blood pressure below 90 mm Hg. Art.); hypersensitivity; propensity to bronchospasm (bronchial asthma, obstructive airways disease, emphysema); late stages of peripheral circulatory disorders (obliterating diseases of peripheral vessels, complicated by gangrene, intermittent claudication, Raynaud's syndrome, pain at rest); while taking MAO inhibitors (exception: MAO-B inhibitors).

Application restrictions

Care should be taken when:

• treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus with significant fluctuations in blood sugar. Symptoms of hypoglycemia may be masked;
• strict diet;
• treatment of patients with metabolic acidosis;
• treatment of patients with a history of severe hypersensitivity reactions;
• treatment of patients with thyrotoxicosis;
• conducting desensitizing therapy;
• atrioventricular block I degree;
• vasospastic angina (Prinzmetal's angina).

If a patient or his relatives have a history of psoriasis (psoriasis), beta-blockers (for example, bisoprolol) should be used only after a thorough assessment of the benefit-risk ratio.

The appointment of bisoprolol to patients with pheochromocytoma is allowed only after taking alpha-blockers.

In patients with chronic heart failure, bisoprolol should also not be used during exacerbation of heart failure or during episodes of decompensated heart failure that require intravenous inotropic drugs. In addition, for patients with chronic heart failure, the use of bisoprolol is contraindicated in bradycardia, if the pulse is less than 60 beats per minute and in hypotension, if systolic blood pressure is below 100 mm Hg. Art.

Use during pregnancy and lactation

Bisoprolol should not be used during pregnancy and lactation, as well as for the treatment of children, since there is not yet sufficient experience for these cases. If bisoprolol is exceptionally used during pregnancy, then treatment with it should be discontinued 72 hours before the expected date of delivery due to the possibility of a slow pulse, a decrease in blood sugar and respiratory depression in the newborn. If this is not possible, then after delivery the newborn should be under close medical supervision. Symptoms of hypoglycemia can usually be expected within the first 3 days.

Side effect

From the side of the nervous system

Especially at the beginning of the course of treatment, disorders of the central nervous system, such as fatigue, dizziness, headache, sleep disturbances, as well as mental disorders (depression, rarely hallucinations), may appear temporarily. Usually these phenomena are mild and disappear, as a rule, within 1-2 weeks after the start of treatment.

From the organs of vision

Rarely: blurred vision, decreased lacrimation (should be taken into account when wearing contact lenses), conjunctivitis.

From the side of the cardiovascular system

In some cases, there is a decrease in blood pressure when moving from a supine position to a standing position (orthostatic hypotension), a decrease in heart rate (bradycardia), a violation of the conduction of excitation from the atria to the ventricles (impaired atrioventricular conduction), decompensation of heart failure with the development of peripheral edema. Sometimes there may be goosebumps and a feeling of coldness in the extremities (paresthesia). At the beginning of treatment, there was an increase in symptoms in patients with intermittent claudication or with spasms of blood vessels in the fingers and toes (Raynaud's syndrome).

From the respiratory system

Rarely there is shortness of breath in patients with a tendency to bronchospasm, for example, with asthmatic bronchitis.

From the gastrointestinal tract

In some cases, there is diarrhea (diarrhea), constipation, nausea, abdominal pain, hepatitis.

From the side of the musculoskeletal system

In some cases it is noted muscle weakness, convulsions, diseases of the joints (arthropathy) with damage to one or more joints (mono- or polyarthritis).

Dermatological reactions

Sometimes: itching; rarely: redness of the skin, sweating, rash.

From the genitourinary organs

Extremely rarely - a violation of potency.

Laboratory indicators

Increased levels of liver enzymes in the blood (ACT, ALT). With concomitant (latent) diabetes mellitus, glucose tolerance may decrease, signs of hypoglycemia (for example, rapid heart rate) may be masked. In some cases, an increase in the level of triglycerides in the blood was observed.

Special instructions and precautions

Treatment with bisoprolol requires regular medical supervision. During treatment, it is necessary to regularly monitor blood pressure, heart rate, ECG, serum glucose for patients with diabetes mellitus, liver and kidney function. The course of treatment with bisoprolol is usually long. The dosage should not be changed without the instructions of the attending physician. Also, treatment should not be interrupted without instructions from the attending physician. Treatment with bisoprolol should not be stopped suddenly, the course of treatment should end, as a rule, slowly with a gradual dose reduction.

This should be especially taken into account in the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease, as well as patients with chronic heart failure (in such patients, the dose should be reduced twice a week). In all cases, the duration of treatment with the drug is determined by the doctor.

When used in patients with pheochromocytoma, there is a risk of developing paradoxical arterial hypertension (if effective alpha-blockade has not been previously achieved).

In some cases, beta-blockers (for example, bisoprolol) can cause the development of psoriasis, aggravate the symptoms of this disease, or lead to psoriasis-like (psoriatic) skin rashes.

In patients who take beta-blockers, more severe forms of the course of hypersensitivity reactions may occur.

Appointment in high doses (beta2-adrenergic receptors are blocked) masks signs and symptoms, and also prolongs the duration of hypoglycemia (in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus), increases the content of glycemia (in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus) in the blood.

If it is necessary to carry out planned surgical treatment, the drug is canceled 48 hours before the start of general anesthesia. When canceling, the general rule for beta-blockers should be observed - reduce the dose of the drug by 25% in 3-4 days.

Influence on the ability to drive a car and work with mechanisms

Caution should be exercised when driving a vehicle or performing work that requires heightened attention. Due to the individual nature of various reactions, the ability to control vehicle or equipment. To an even greater extent, this applies to the initial stage of treatment and changing the drug, as well as interaction with alcohol.

drug interaction

Bisoprolol may enhance the effect of other concomitantly taken drugs that lower blood pressure. With the simultaneous use of bisoprolol and reserpine, alpha-methyldopa (methyldopa), clonidine, digitalis or guanfacine, a sharper slowdown in heart rate may occur. Clonidine, digitalis, and guanfacine can, in addition, inhibit the conduction of excitation.

With simultaneous treatment with clonidine, it can only be canceled if bisoprolol has been completed a few days before. Otherwise, an excessive increase in blood pressure is possible.

With the simultaneous use of nifedipine or calcium channel blockers such as dihydropyridine, the hypotensive effect of bisoprolol may increase.

With the simultaneous use of bisoprolol and calcium channel blockers such as verapamil and diltiazem or other antiarrhythmic drugs, the risk of developing AV blockade increases. Careful observation of a doctor is indicated, since a sharp decrease in blood pressure, a slowing of the heart rate, as well as the development of cardiac arrhythmias and / or heart failure are possible. Therefore, during treatment with bisoprolol, intravenous administration of calcium antagonists and antiarrhythmic drugs should not be prescribed.

Simultaneous administration of ergotamine derivatives (for example, ergotamine-containing migraine drugs) and bisoprolol may lead to an increase in peripheral circulatory disorders.

With the simultaneous use of bisoprolol and insulin or oral antidiabetic drugs, the effect of these medicines may increase. Signs of hypoglycemia (particularly rapid heart rate) can be masked or mitigated. Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels is necessary. Since the functional state of the heart may worsen due to anesthesia, the doctor performing anesthesia should be informed about the treatment with bisoprolol before surgery.

Increases the concentration of lidocaine in plasma; sulfasalazine - increases the concentration of bisoprolol in plasma.

With the simultaneous use of bisoprolol and sympathomimetic agents (for example, those contained in cough medicines, nasal drops and eye drops), the effect of bisoprolol may be weakened.

The hypotensive effect is weakened by NSAIDs, due to sodium retention and blockade of prostaglandin synthesis by the kidneys; estrogens (sodium retention); xanthines.

While taking bisoprolol and rifampicin, the half-life of bisoprolol may be slightly reduced. Dose increases are usually not required.

Incompatible with MAO inhibitors (except for MAO-B inhibitors).

It is undesirable to take it together with grapefruit and carambola, which slow down the metabolism of bisoprolol and increase its concentration in the blood.

Incompatible with alcohol (perhaps an excessive decrease in blood pressure, up to orthostatic collapse).

Clinical studies of bisoprolol

CIBIS Research

CIBIS (Eng. Cardiac Insufficiency Bisoprolol Study) is the name of several clinical studies on the effectiveness of bisoprolol in the treatment of heart failure.

CIBIS I, conducted in 1994, was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. The observation time is 1.9 years. Population: 641 patients with severe chronic heart failure (III-IV functional class). In addition to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, diuretics, and cardiac glycosides, bisoprolol or placebo was administered. The initial dose of bisoprolol is 1.25 mg / day, the “target” is 5 mg / day. Bisoprolol belongs to the group of β-blockers. The overall mortality of patients, hospitalization for decompensation of chronic heart failure (CHF) was assessed.

During the follow-up, 53 patients (16.6%) treated with bisoprolol and 67 patients treated with placebo (20.9%) died. Thus, a reduction in the risk of overall mortality by 20% was obtained. However, this decrease did not reach a statistically significant value.

The subsequent CIBIS II study confirmed the ability of bisoprolol to reduce overall mortality in patients with CHF.

In connection with the decompensation of CHF, 19.1% of patients treated with bisoprolol were hospitalized, 28% of patients in the control group.

The dependence of the effectiveness of treatment with bisoprolol on the etiology of CHF was noted: overall mortality in patients with non-ischemic pathology (dilated cardiomyopathy) was 9.4%, in patients receiving placebo 20%. In patients with ischemic etiology of CHF (history of myocardial infarction), there was no decrease in overall mortality.

Also, bisoprolol treatment was more effective in subgroups of patients with heart rate > 80 beats per minute, more severe CHF (functional class IV).

CIBIS II, conducted in 1999, is the second study on the use of bisoprolol in patients with chronic heart failure. The study was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. The observation time is 1.4 years. Population: 2647 patients with chronic heart failure III-IV functional class. The initial dose of bisoprolol is 1.25 mg/day, the target dose is 10 mg/day.

A 32% reduction in total mortality, a 45% reduction in the risk of sudden death, and a 15% reduction in the risk of hospitalization were obtained. There was also a high efficiency of treatment with bisoprolol in CHF of ischemic etiology, 39% versus 15% (in contrast to the CIBIS I study). Treatment with bisoprolol did not depend on the severity of CHF.

Notes

Literature

• "Bisoprolol and magnesium preparations in the treatment of arterial hypertension" - BC, Volume 12 No. 14, 2004

Athlete's heart: the effect of training on the myocardium

Regular training entails irreversible changes in the heart!

Many studies have already been carried out by doctors, in which the following acted as "guinea pigs": strength athletes, weightlifters and bodybuilders, as well as athletes - runners, tennis players, swimmers, etc. In the study of their cardiovascular system, attention was drawn to the fact that the heart of people susceptible to physical activity, begins to morphologically and functionally differ from the heart of ordinary people.

Sports at the professional level are unequivocally recognized by doctors and scientists as unfavorable for health, because athletes who train for records have to overcome such serious loads that everyone else could not even dream of.

The history of professional sports has preserved many cases when famous athletes died in front of everyone's eyes for no reason. Only later was it established that the cause of death was heart disease, which had been secret until that moment. That is why doctors are opposed to professional sports, and recommend relatively small loads for recovery, amounting to 30-40% of the maximum.

So, we can distinguish two main conditions that occur in the heart muscle during training:

1. Athletes often show left ventricular cavity enlargement and hypertrophy of its wall (outwardly, this is manifested by bradycardia at rest);
2. in weightlifters and powerlifters experiencing predominantly low-dynamic and static loads (especially accompanied by an expiratory delay during maximum stress), the heart changes pathologically over time - the left ventricle increases in size, and its contractility decreases.

The force of myocardial contraction varies according to the Frank-Starling law. This law says: "the stronger the muscle is stretched before contraction, the more intense its subsequent contraction." However, if the myocardium of the left ventricle is subjected to strong blood pressure (after all, with statically contracted muscles, it is more difficult for the heart to push blood into them, therefore, more of it remains in the cavities of the ventricles) systematically, it gradually loses the ability to contract sufficiently strong - blood stagnates in the heart cavities, which further exacerbates the situation.

Physiology distinguishes two main types of muscle contractions:

1. Dynamic - During dynamic loads, the length of the muscle fiber changes over a wide range.
2. Static - During static loads, the length of the muscle fiber practically does not change.

So, powerlifting, weightlifting and (to some extent) bodybuilding are characterized by the predominance of static loads, while Athletics- dynamic. At the same time, the blood flow in the muscle tissue increases significantly, the blood does not stagnate in the periphery, but quickly returns through the venous system back to the heart - this is facilitated by the pressure of periodically contracting muscles on the vessel wall. A “second heart” appears, helping the first (and main) to carry out its function.

With frequent static loads during classes power sports due to prolonged constant muscle tension during the exercise, the arteries and veins in them expand, therefore, the heart needs to make more efforts to push blood through the vessels.

Also, many athletes-siloviks are diagnosed with arterial hypertension of varying degrees - this is another consequence of constant and prohibitive static loads.

A very dangerous moment is the abrupt cessation of sports. As soon as you give up training, the process of weakening of all muscles begins, including the muscles of the heart. This can also lead to the development of heart failure.