avoid heart attack for older player

[lim]

I am 46yrs old still playing badminton quite regularly, at time in the midst of the
game I felt heavy breathing and heart pounding very fast, that worries me and ussually I slow down the game for a respite. I am also comtemplating a switch to
a slower game such as pickle ball, thanks for any advice

[kwun]

very often during a game, esp. during singles, i experience the same thing as you. i am 20 yrs younger than you, badminton is an intensive sport, and those are natural reaction from your body. so i won't be too worried about it.

beware though, don't overwork yourself. your maximum heart rate decrease by one beat per minute for every year you gain.

Cheung has some good opinion on this topic in another thread. any opinion on this particular concern, Dr. Cheung?

[Brett]

Go see a doctor, preferably a cardiologist, before you play again! You may have one or more conditions that may increase your risk of a heart attack that can be controlled by medication. If you smoke, quit today.

Try playing with some less competitive players so you don't need to exert yourself too much. Make sure you stretch and warm up adequately before playing.

[lim]

I have found this info quite useful on this website, thanks for advise given,
the site is http://www.heartinfo.org/hrtatkang.html#HrtAtkSym,. Incidentally
what is the max heartbeat for a person around 46, I remember there is a formula
to work on, anyone still remember

[knock-out]

Hey Lim,
Your estimated maximum heart rate is 220 minus your age. (220-46=174) That is estimated, of course, you can't get your real MHR without a bike ergometer or a treadmill, but estimated is really close enough. There is a measurement error of aproximately +/- 10 beats per minute. After that, it gets into other formulas for target heart rates and resting heart rates, etc, if you are interested, write back and I'll share more.

[Cheung]

Need more detail on this such as;
only brought on when playing badminton? or other exertion?
how long does it last for? what stops the feeling?
any faintness? any dizziness?
associated with any chest pain?
Any wheeze? Breathing problems at other times?
How often do you exercise?
Ever had problems with the heart before? Anybody in the family with heart problems?
Smoke?

[Clive]

Get a check-up...
I started playing Badminton again at 49..I used to walk 15-20 miles at 4 mph and this was no camparison to Badminton...
I got a full check-up including an ECG before returning to the sport,,,

[lim]

thanks everyone, I will go for a check up before deciding on the next course of action, hope I can continue to play badminton until 60 yrs old, anyone here at
60 is still playing the game ....

[Clive]

I met people in London in June who still play at 60's...
There is also a veterans tournement in Miami yearly and I understand people play there in to their 70's....
rgds
Clive

[marshall]

I'll be 60 in early April and I hope to play for a number of years past that (20 +, I hope). The Miami Senior International tournament attracts players from Europe, Asia, North and South America. I haven't played it myself, but my wife did the past two or three times. Competition is fierce, with several former international pros in the draw. I've seen people in their late 70s keep fit just so they can play hard games three times a week or more.

[cooler]

i only wish i can play competitively in my 60's