Originally posted by: SlickSnake
Firemen have the highest probability of heart attacks. Up to a 50% greater chance of a heart attack while on a call. So it is not just about genetics or drug use or abuse of your bodies.
The training can be very strenuous, too. I saw plenty of young firemen who were at their ideal weight who could not make an entire day of training in 100 degree heat. The slightly overweight ones, like myself, were much better adapted to the training scenarios. Although I sweated like a pig the entire time.
I also have had a heart condition for my entire life. My heart will spike occasionally, up to 10 extra spikes/beats a minute. My EKG will be normal, then it spikes, then normal for a few more beats, it is highly erratic. I did some research testing recently concerning my fat ratio and breathing capacity for a research institute study. I thought it might be useful having this knowledge and test records, since I am a fire fighter. During my testing, they thought I was going to have a heart attack, LOL, and called a code 3 drill to get the doctors and nurses in place. The ECG I was hooked up to whined its alarm every time I erratically peaked, which was often. I am only maybe 30 pounds over weight, and I still wear the same size pants I did as a senior in high school when I was working out about 25 years ago. I also told them I had always had an erratic heart beat before testing occurred, but I guess now they believe me, hehe.
And I always avoided any drugs that sped up my metabolism, including cigarettes, except for caffeine. I got to have my caffeine!