Although the benefits of regular exercise in controlling cardiovascular risk factors have been extensively proven, little is known about the long-term cardiovascular effects of regular and extreme endurance sports, such as jogging, cycling, rowing, swimming, etc. A recent study suggested that middle-aged athletes may benefit from heart-screening tests that can uncover risk of irregular heart rhythm from atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmias that can lead to sudden death. Dr Luis Mont, of the Hospital Clinic de Barcelona in Spain reports that middle aged athletes may have hidden heart disease and increased rish for atrial fibrillation which can lead to stoke. Atrial fibrillation is the most common  cardiac arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) and involves the two upper chambers (atria) of the heart. Its name comes from the fibrillating (i.e. quivering) of the heart muscles of the atria, instead of a coordinated contraction. Cyclists, marathon and endurance atheletes are at higher risk for atrial fibrillation which cause the chambers of the heart to beat out of rhythm. Even athletes who do not participate in competitive sports risk atrial fibrillation says Dr. Mont, "So we have to look at the effects of endurance or athletic training with a more open view." A drawback of screening athletes who may be at risk for atrial fibrillation is whether routine testing would be cost effective.  Given the fact that an increasing number of individuals engage in regular endurance sports, "it is certainly of great interest to define which recommendations for sport should be implemented in an individual patient, and how best to manage arrhythmias in participants," says Dr. Mont.Three research studies performed by Dr. Mont and colleagues explored the risk and treatment of heart rhythm problems in athletes. Medication, such as Losartan (a blood pressure medication), pulmonary vein ablation (a procedure that disrupts abnormal heart signals), and endurance training followed by periods of inactivity all may reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation and other heart rhythm disturbances in athletes.Endurance training can cause structural changes to the heart that increase the risk of arrhythmias, including atril fibrillation especially among middle-aged athletes. More discussion on the benefits of screening middle aged athletes is currently under review among sports cardiologists.Of course if you feel any irregular heartbeats, racing of the heart or increased shortness of breath you would want to be evaluated by your physician.Debbi Carroll, RN is the Marketing Director for Biomedical Research Laboratories which markets EPOBoost, an all natural, safe herbal nutritional supplement for endurance athletes to increase endurance, VO2 max and running economy. To learn more about EPO-Boost visitwww.epoboost.com ...read more

A new study today from Chaim Sheba Medical Center in Israel suggested that eating a high-carb diet -- with foods like cornflakes and white bread -- could also raise your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Researchers gave 56 overweight but otherwise healthy men and women foods with different places on the glycemic index. The researchers measured the functioning of a layer of cells that line the inside of blood vessels. If that function, called the endothelial function, is poor, it's thought to increase the risk of heart disease. Blood sugar levels were also measured. The study concluded that high-glycemic meals impaired the endothelial function. Foods with low-glycemic index carbohydrates like oatmeal, nuts and most fruits and vegetables, were found to be healthier for your heart. "High-glycemic index carbs are dangerous since they reduce or inhibit endothelial function ... potentially leading to heart disease," stated Dr. Michael Shechter, cardiologist at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University in Israel. This is important news for endurance athletes. With Michael Phelps appearing on the box of Corn Flakes, one needs to wonder how many athletes are consuming high glycemic foods. There are many studies evaluating the best choice of foods to eat while training, pre and post race. Endurance athletes looking for that competitve edge have long looked for different ways to enhance their performance. Carbohydrate consumption before, during, and after exercise has been shown through research to have a direct relationship with sport performance. Due to this fact, athletes have practiced high carbohydrate consumption in preparation for, during, and also after athletic events to possibly enhance their performance. Choices in high vs low glycemic index choices are important in choosing the right diet for the endurance athlete. A review of studies suggest that low glycemic index carbohydrate foods were best ingested between 45-60 minutes before the onset of exercise. It appears that the glycemic index is a tool athletes can use as a guide to help enhance their exercise performance. EPO-BOOST is an all natural endurance supplement that has been shown to improve endurance, VO2 max and running ecomomy in endurance athletes. For more information about the nutritional supplement EPO-BOOST visit www.epoboost.com ...read more

Have you ever tried to swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run 26.2 miles only to feel your endurance begin to wane several miles before the finish line?If not, you've never competed in a triathlon.    The triathlon may be the most grueling endurance race on the planet. Although there may be some variation of distances in the triathlon, the full triathlon usually covers the full range of 2.4 miles swimming, 112 miles biking and 26.2 miles running. Not a bad day's work whether a competitor wins or not.  People who compete in distance races know of the burning lungs, rubbery legs and feeling of utter exhaustion at the limits of endurance. Once a competitor hits the wall, the race can become a huge challenge. No amount of will power can overcome when the body will simply no longer perform.  Waning endurance can affect any distance race—none more so than the triathlon. Endurance depends largely on the ability of the body to absorb oxygen. The more oxygen a body is able to absorb, the greater the endurance over extended periods.  The maximum amount of oxygen a body can use during rigorous exercise is maximal oxygen uptake or VO2 max.It is a measure of a person's aerobic capacity, and is considered the best measurement available to determine physical fitness. While there is not room in this short article to describe VO2 max in detail, suffice it to say that the higher the level at which VO2 max is reached, the greater the level of cardiovascular fitness and physical endurance of the body.  Running efficiency is also a major factor in endurance races. It refers to how much oxygen you use during physical exertion while not running at VO2 max. Endurance racers simply cannot perform at VO2 max for the duration of the race. They must run at less than VO2 max in order to remain competitive through the end of the race. In sports like baseball, there may be short bursts of maximum speed, such as when a base runner is moving from one base to the next, or when a fielder chases down a pop fly. However, those athletes recover the oxygen supply in their bodies easily because they are able to rest between their short sprints. Triathlon competitors have no such luxury. The elite athletes in the triathlon must keep their VO2 max high so they retain a competitive edge.  While there is no substitute for training and exercise for developing physical capabilities and conditioning, there is a performance booster and EPO stimulator available to help most anyone increase their personal VO2 max, running economy and physical endurance. So if you run, cycle or swim you can enhance your performance withEPO-BOOST™.EPO-BOOST™contains only natural ingredients that increase VO2 max, thus increasing endurance. It gives athletes the ability to run at increased speeds over longer periods. Its natural ingredients stimulate the production of EPO, also called erythropoietin. To learn more abouthow EPO-BOOST™works  Now you can reap the benefits of increased VO2 max and running economy in your running and training. EPO-BOOST™ingredients have been shown to significantly increase VO2 max and running economy in university athletes. You will see huge gains in endurance, we guarantee it 100%. By increasing endurance, EPO-BOOST™let's you train harder, run, bike and swim faster and farther. TryEPO-BOOST™  Risk Free NOW for your next 5k, 10k, marathon, or triathlon. Boost your endurance with EPO-BOOST™and you'll run faster and farther, we guarantee it! ...read more