Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
4 min of reading 
0 comments 
Cardiac condition cited in the death of young bodybuilder can remain silent for years and manifest during moments of extreme physical exertion
The hypertrophic cardiomyopathy returned to the center of medical debates after being cited on the death certificate of bodybuilder and influencer Gabriel Ganley, who died at 22, in São Paulo.
The condition causes abnormal thickening of the heart muscle. The condition can trigger severe arrhythmias, heart failure, and episodes of sudden death, especially during intense training and competitions.
Experts interviewed by g1 state that the disease can arise from a genetic origin or be acquired over a lifetime. The use of anabolic steroids appears among the factors associated with the worsening of the heart problem.
-
Six 400,000-year-old teeth found in China contained a protein that was believed to exist only in the mysterious Denisovans: the discovery reveals that Homo erectus interbred with this extinct relative and left a genetic trace that still lives in human populations today.
-
American donated US$ 5,000 to a Chinese farmer to plant trees in the desert, and decades later the money turned into a forest with more than 50,000 trees.
-
Almost no ship sails directly between South America and Australia, and the reason is a combination of the vast distance, winds that circle the planet nonstop, and the absence of ports along the way, leaving the South Pacific as a water desert.
-
More than 85 million homes in China heat water for free with vacuum glass tubes invented at a Chinese university, a cheap technology with no moving parts that faces certification rules and codes in the United States, making installation too expensive.
Change in heart muscle can reduce heart function
In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, part of the heart grows beyond the size considered normal.
The increase in thickness reduces the internal space responsible for blood accumulation before pumping. The heart starts to work less efficiently and may exhibit significant electrical changes.
Ricardo Katayose, cardiovascular surgeon at BP – A Beneficência Portuguesa de São Paulo, explains that the ventricle wall usually measures up to about one centimeter.
More severe cases can exceed 30 millimeters in thickness, directly compromising the filling and proper functioning of the organ.
The excessive growth of the heart muscle can also disorganize the electrical impulses responsible for heartbeats.
Silent conditions often make early diagnosis of the disease difficult.
Genetic form increases risk of sudden death in young people
Elzo Mattar, director of the hypertension department at the Brazilian Society of Cardiology, states that the genetic form usually causes an asymmetric thickening of the heart.
One of the heart walls grows disproportionately, while others remain preserved.
The autosomal dominant pattern of the disease generates a 50% chance of transmission between parents and children.
Experts consider hypertrophic cardiomyopathy one of the main causes of sudden death in people under 35 years old in Brazil and other countries.
Intense training can trigger severe arrhythmias
Many patients live with the disease for years without noticing significant symptoms.
Moments of intense physical exertion can accelerate heartbeats and trigger malignant arrhythmias.
Ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation are among the most dangerous conditions related to the condition.
These changes prevent the proper pumping of blood and quickly compromise the flow to the brain and other organs.
The absence of immediate reversal can lead to cardiorespiratory arrest.
Shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations, dizziness, and fainting are among the most reported symptoms by diagnosed patients.
Patients with confirmation of the disease are usually not cleared for high-performance sports practices.
Anabolic steroids can accelerate heart damage
The use of anabolic steroids can also contribute to significant cardiac changes.
Elzo Mattar states that these substances raise blood pressure and increase the heart’s workload.
The heart muscle begins to grow in a disorganized manner.
The accelerated advancement of the heart wall hinders the adequate irrigation of the muscle itself.
Areas of necrosis and fibrosis may arise during this process.
These small scars create a favorable environment for the development of severe arrhythmias.
Experts also warn of the risk of changes in the microcirculation of the coronary arteries and sudden clot formation.
Cases of coronary thrombosis, heart attack, and sudden death can occur even in seemingly healthy individuals.
Use of insulin without medical indication also concerns specialists
Gabriel Ganley reported on social media the use of insulin for aesthetic purposes and muscle gain.
Clayton Macedo, director of the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabology, explains that the substance does not directly cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Inappropriate use can increase cardiovascular risks, especially when combined with anabolic steroids, stimulants, and diuretics.
People without diabetes can develop severe episodes of hypoglycemia.
Mental confusion, seizures, coma, and even death are among the possible consequences.
The excess of substances used simultaneously significantly increases cardiovascular stress.
Diagnosis requires cardiac exams and family evaluation
The diagnosis is usually made through exams such as echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.
Close family members should also undergo medical evaluation when there is confirmation of the genetic form of the disease.
The treatment varies according to the severity of the clinical condition.
Medications, restriction of intense exercises, and the implantation of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator are among the main therapeutic approaches.
The case of Gabriel Ganley remains under official investigation.
The death certificate mentions hypertrophic cardiomyopathy associated with pulmonary edema and congestive heart failure.
Should the discussion about extreme performance, substance use, and preventive medical monitoring gain even more space in light of silent heart diseases that can act without any prior warning?
Be the first to react!