Sports

While exercise is usually good for the heart, that's not always true for patients with arrhythmia. Some types of arrhythmia may result in sudden cardiac death, making participation in competitive sports inadvisable. For children and adults with long QT syndrome (LQTS), for example, sports participation is one of the biggest issues they must face. Each person with long QT syndrome is different, and should discuss participation in sports with his or her physician. In general, if you have LQTS, however, doctors advise that you do not play competitive sports, especially in junior high, high school, or university settings. The heightened competition of school sports combines all the elements of the "fight-ort-flight" response and increases the possibility that the heart may spin electrically out of control.

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Recommendations about recreational sports and exercise should be developed for each person. Factors that should be considered include your medical history, your symptoms, and your treatment.