On January 2, Buffalo Bills football player Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest on the field. After nine minutes of CPR, medical personnel revived his heartbeat and rushed him to a hospital where he remains in critical condition.
Some news reports have speculated that he suffered something called commotio cordis, where a direct blow to the chest causes the heart to go into a fatal rhythm. A typical commotio cordis arrest involves a small high-velocity object striking the chest—usually a baseball, softball, or lacrosse ball. Athletes in outdoor sports, who are less likely to encounter flying baseballs, face a much lower risk of commotio cordis, which is an extremely rare occurrence in any population. But Hamlin’s episode follows a number of high-profile cardiac arrests in athletes, including soccer star Christian Eriksen in 2021, who survived and later played in the 2022 World Cup, as well as the fatal arrests of Scottish cyclist Rab Wardell, last year, and marathon runner Ryan Shay, in 2007. All of which have renewed discussion about the risks sports pose to an athlete’s heart.
What Causes Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Athletes?
Overwhelmingly, exercise is good for cardiovascular health. It lowers the chance that you’ll…
