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Review
. 2024 Aug 22;13(16):4961.
doi: 10.3390/jcm13164961.

Effects of Environmental Conditions on Athlete's Cardiovascular System

Andrea Segreti  1   2   3 , Mihail Celeski  1   2 , Emiliano Guerra  4 , Simone Pasquale Crispino  1   2 , Francesca Vespasiano  1   2 , Lorenzo Buzzelli  1   2 , Chiara Fossati  3 , Rocco Papalia  5   6 , Fabio Pigozzi  3 , Francesco Grigioni  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Effects of Environmental Conditions on Athlete's Cardiovascular System

Andrea Segreti et al. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

Environmental factors such as extreme temperatures, humidity, wind, pollution, altitude, and diving can significantly impact athletes' cardiovascular systems, potentially hindering their performance, particularly in outdoor sports. The urgency of this issue is heightened by the increasing prevalence of climate change and its associated conditions, including fluctuating pollution levels, temperature variations, and the spread of infectious diseases. Despite its critical importance, this topic is often overlooked in sports medicine. This narrative review seeks to address this gap by providing a comprehensive, evidence-based evaluation of how athletes respond to environmental stresses. A thorough assessment of current knowledge is essential to better prepare athletes for competition under environmental stress and to minimize the harmful effects of these factors. Specifically, adaptative strategies and preventative measures are vital to mitigating these environmental influences and ensuring athletes' safety.

Keywords: adaptation; athletes; cardiovascular efficiency; environmental conditions.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Acute effects of varying environmental conditions on the cardiovascular system and athletic performance. Notably, the chronic response of various cardiovascular parameters after adaptation mechanisms differs from that of the acute response depicted in the figure. ↑ = increase; ↓ = reduction.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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