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A member asked:
Why do athletes have thicker heart walls compared to non-athletes?
6 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Training: Like all muscles, the hearts of athletes who work out frequently and regularly can increase in thickness.
Answered 9/26/2013
4.9k views
Only some: The heart responds to stress by changing its structure. Athletes like weight lifters, rowers, and wrestlers often develop thicker heart walls. Endurance athletes like runners develop dilated hearts. These changes are appropriate and are caused by repetitive exercising and training. This is often called the "athlete's heart".
Answered 9/20/2013
4.9k views
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