Sport nosi nedvojbene zdravstvene prednosti fizičke aktivnosti, no veliki tjelesni napori vrhunskog sporta mogu prolazno, ali i trajno povećati rizik od bolesti mnogih organskih sustava. Profesionalni sportaši, posebno u sportovima izdržljivosti, mogu razviti neku bolest srca koju je ključno razlikovati od fizioloških prilagodbi srca (sportsko srce) za bavljenje vrhunskim sportom. U posljednje vrijeme u istraživanjima velik se naglasak stavlja na remodelaciju desne klijetke koja može dovesti do drugih zdravstvenih problema. U sportovima izdržljivosti češće su i neke supraventrikularne aritmije. U predisponiranih sportaša uslijed velikih napora može nastati iznenadna srčana smrt. Astma i bronhokonstrikcija iducirani naporom su klinički entiteti u kojima tjelesni napor uzrokuje bronhalnu preosjetljivost. Vjerojatno su uzrokovani gubitkom vode s površine respiratorne sluznice. U nekim sportovima i disciplinama (posebno u sportovima snage), osobito nakon umirovljenja iz profesionalnog sporta, uočena je veća učestalost pretilosti, inzulinske rezistencije i metaboličkog sindroma. Profesionalne sportašice mogu razviti poremećaje menstrualnog ciklusa, pa čak i ženski sportski trijas (niska dostupnost energije, poremećaji menstrualnog ciklusa i snižena mineralna gustoća kostiju). U sportaša su i češći poremećaji prehrane, u pravilu zbog prilagodbe tijela na određeni sport, bilo s posljedicama mršavljenja ili debljanja. Neumjerena tjelovježba može dovesti do rabdomiolize inducirane naporom, koja u najtežim slučajevima može rezultirati bubrežnim oštećenjem ili zatajenjem. Vrhunski sport, a posebice sportovi izdržljivosti, dokazano može uzrokovati deficijenciju željeza i sideropeničnu anemiju. Smatra se da produljeni periodi intenzivnog treninga koče apsorpciju i korištenje željeza u eritrocitopoeziSport undoubtedtly provides health benefits of physical activity. Nevertheless, great physical efforts of top sports can transiently, but also permanently increase the risk of developing diseases of many organic systems. Professional athletes, especially in endurance sports may develop some cardiac disease, but it is imperative that distinction is made between those diseases and physiological adjustments of the heart (i.e. athlete’s heart) to top sports. Lately, greater attention has been given to right ventricular remodelling which can lead to other health issues. In endurance sports, some supraventricular arrhythmias are also more common than in the general population. In predisposed athletes, sudden cardiac death may be a consequence of great physical efforts. Exercise-induced asthma and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction are clinical entities in which physical efforts cause bronchal hypersensitivity. They are probably caused by loss of water off the surface of respiratory mucosa. In some sports and athletic disciplines (mostly in strength sports), especially after retirement from professional sport, a greater prevalence of obesity, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome has been observed. Professional female athletes may develop menstrual cycle disorders and even female athlete triad (low energy availability, menstrual disorders and low bone mineral density). Eating disorders are also more common in athletes, usually due to adjustment of the body to a specific sport, with either losing or gaining body weight as a consequence. Excessive workout may cause exertional rhabdomyolysis, which (in its most severe form) may cause renal damage or renal failure. It has been proved that top sports (and especially endurance sports) can cause iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia. Long periods of high intensity training are thought to suppress iron absorption and the use of iron in erythropoiesi
