DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My teens love being on their school’s sports teams. But in recent years, I’ve seen more stories about kids, and even professional athletes, having issues with their hearts during games. What can you tell me about this?
ANSWER: From football and lacrosse to volleyball and basketball, sports conditioning requires stamina and endurance from the body’s cardiovascular system.
Intense training and exercise increase the body’s need for oxygen. The heart is the engine that supplies oxygen-rich blood to the muscles. With regular, vigorous aerobic activity, an athlete’s heart begins to change over time, growing larger and stronger with increased capacity.
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