Expert's Reply
A.
Cardiologist
Dear Kirsty
I am sorry to hear about your anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Your breathing difficulties sound very much to me like hyperventilation, which has nothing to do with your heart or lungs and is simply a sign of stress. ECG’s, like witnesses in the witness box, sometimes do not tell the truth, so although I haven’t seen your ECG I would be skeptical about any doubtfully abnormal ECG changes.
Whatever the case, exercise will have very little effect on your heart function. When people get fit by exercising, it is not because their hearts get stronger, but because their muscles become much more efficient and require less blood to function well. Exercise will tend to make your heart slower, but not necessarily stronger. However, exercise is very beneficial in many different ways, so I think that an exercise programme is a very good idea for you. It is worth remembering what ASICS stands for, (the name of the well known running shoe). In Latin it stands for Anima Sana In Corpore Sano, which means “a healthy mind in a healthy body”.
Best wishes, JT
The information provided does not constitute a diagnosis of your condition. You should consult a medical practitioner or other appropriate health care professional for a physical exmanication, diagnosis and formal
advice. Health24 and the expert accept no responsibility or liability for any damage or person harm you may suffer resulting from making use of this content.