Adrenaline plays a crucial role in enhancing athletic performance during high-stakes situations. However, its effects on the heart are profound and can be both beneficial and risky.Adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, is a hormone released by the adrenal glands in response to stress or excitement. For athletes, adrenaline plays a crucial role in enhancing performance during high-stakes situations. However, its effects on the heart are profound and can be both beneficial and risky, depending...

In Australia, rip currents remain the number one coastal hazard, involved in 35% of drowning deaths in 2024.According to the Royal Life Saving Australia's National Drowning Report 2024, 323 people drowned in Australian waterways in the period from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024, representing a 16% increase on the ten-year average. Of the total drowning deaths:265 (82%) were men and 58 (18%) were women129 (40%) were adults aged 55 years and over83 (25%) were people bo...

This article was originally motivated by incidental conversations with fellow athletes regarding dissatisfaction with their medication regimes; in particular, the use of beta-blockers for managing hypertension (high blood pressure) or arrhythmia (an irregular heart beat) in athletes has cropped up a few times. Here, I provide an overview of beta blockers and set out some of the salient issues for athletes who are on beta-blockers. If this topic bears some relevance to you,...

Treadmill running offers you the regular suite of heart health benefits associated with any form of aerobic exercise. A number of famous athletes have used the treadmill in their race preparation.A matter of the heartTreadmill running is a matter close to my own heart, quite literally. An avid runner since my childhood, the first time I ever set foot on a treadmill was after being diagnosed with my cardiac condition (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) back in 2005. Cardiologists told me then that m...

Endurance athletes, from marathon runners to triathletes, face the crucial decision of how to fuel their bodies for optimal performance.Carbohydrate loading has long been a favoured strategy among endurance athletes to enhance performance by maximising glycogen stores before a race or competition. However, despite its popularity, the practice has sparked significant controversy in recent years. Fat burning, or fat-adaptation, is a strategy gaining traction among endurance athletes. By trainin...

In the world of competitive cycling, athletes push their bodies to the limits, often sacrificing personal health for the sake of victory.It is not uncommon for the intense pressure to perform, fear of disqualification and the stigma associated with medical conditions to drive athletes to hide their symptoms. The concealment of heart arrhythmias, where the heart beats irregularly, either too fast or slow, is rumoured to occur in professional cycling pelotons where athletes might fear the reper...

Steps athletes can take to prevent an unintentional breach of anti-doping policyHH4A Resource: InfographicWhether you are an elite or competitive age-group athlete, it is important for you and your teams to be familiar with sport integrity matters. This free resource provides a useful tool for raising awareness of anti-doping policy and how to avoid pitfalls. You are welcome to download and share with your athletes. ...

Should we bury our heads in the sand and pretend that no one cheats?You might not be an elite athlete, but you probably count yourself as a fairly competitive age-grouper. In fact, there are increasingly more competitive opportunities for athletes in the masters’ (>35 years) cohort across almost every sport in Australia, with major events including the Australian, Pan-Pacific and World Masters Games.Not surprisingly, the world governing bodies in a number of sporting codes now target age...