Recently, the Hyrox trend has swept Indonesian sports enthusiasts. This combination of running and functional training is indeed very effective for burning calories and testing the limits of physical ability. However, behind the fiery competitive spirit lies an important question: Is your heart ready to handle such a heavy load?
High-intensity exercise is good for your health, but without preparation and understanding your body's condition, this activity can turn from a friend to a foe for your heart health.
Getting to Know Hyrox and Its Burden on the Heart
Hyrox demands both cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength simultaneously over a prolonged period. When you perform high-intensity training (HIIT), your heart works extra hard to pump oxygen-rich blood throughout your muscles.
For healthy, trained individuals, this will strengthen the heart muscle. However, for those with undetected congenital heart conditions or other risk factors, this intensity can trigger heart rhythm disturbances or excessive workload on the heart.
Danger Signals: When Should You Stop?
Body awareness is key. Don't push yourself if you experience any of the following symptoms during or after exercise:
- Chest Pain or Pressure: Feeling like a heavy weight is pressing on the chest area, which sometimes radiates to the neck or arms.
- Unusual Shortness of Breath: Breath feels very short and does not improve even after resting.
- Dizziness or Fainting: This could be a sign of insufficient blood flow to the brain or a heart rhythm disturbance.
- Irregular Heartbeat: Feeling the sensation of your heartbeat skipping or beating too fast inconsistently.
- Extreme Fatigue: A feeling of fatigue that does not go away after sufficient rest, very different from the usual feeling of exercise fatigue.
Tips for Safely Enjoying High-Intensity Exercise Trends
To stay safe following the Hyrox trend, make sure you take the following steps:
- Warm Up & Cool Down: Never skip this phase to maintain the flexibility of your blood vessels.
- Monitor Heart Rate: Use your smartwatch to ensure your heart rate is within the safe zone for your age and fitness level.
- Adequate Hydration and Nutrition: Electrolyte deficiency can trigger heart rhythm disturbances.
- Regular Medical Check-Ups: This is the most crucial step before starting a high-intensity exercise program.
Check Your Heart Health at EMC Grha Kedoya Hospital
We fully support your healthy lifestyle. However, ensure your enthusiasm for exercise is accompanied by ensuring your health is in top condition. Don't wait until symptoms appear. Before you register for your next competition, ensure your body's main engine is in top condition.
Immediately consult your fitness condition with a Cardiologist at EMC Grha Kedoya Hospital to get recommendations for safe exercise portions that are appropriate for your body condition.
Article written by Dr. Andy Sukmadja, Sp.JP (K) Interventional Cardiology Fellowship (Heart and Blood Vessel Specialist, EMC Grha Kedoya Hospital)