bicycle lane marking
In an emergency situation like this (cardiac arrest), only a defibrilator (a device sending an electrical shock to the heart) can save the life of the unconscious cyclist. This device is not always accessible, and the resuscitation efforts done by paramedics or others on the road, are not always successful.
cycling along the promenade
According to the News, the two were experienced riders, and had undergone all the neccessary medical tests.
The thing is that the Heart organ can often be unpredictable, so one cannot fully rely on experience and tests. Besides, tests are not always accurate, and doctors don't always have the right answer or medication at hand.
female bicycle rider
male bicycle rider
waiting for the green light - on Kalisher street Tel Aviv
(The world ,it appears, is full of 'nutters'. I myself was one of them till recently; I used to walk like there was no tomorrow).
photo taken through the bus window
Cycling has lots of physical, mental, and social benefits. Unlike other sports (running or jogging, for instance) it is not weight-bearing. No wonder it has become so popular over the years. Anyway, its dangers should not be overlooked
Cycling has lots of physical, mental, and social benefits. Unlike other sports (running or jogging, for instance) it is not weight-bearing. No wonder it has become so popular over the years. Anyway, its dangers should not be overlooked
jogging in the park
I never heard of this about those who rides in bikes. I wonder are there certain area higher then others. In my area because the way our highway is set up there not much for bike riders.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on
Unfortunately, we hear a lot about bike casualties either in accidents or as a result of cardiac problems.
DeleteWe do not have to prove anything to anybody, we should more think aboout our health which not always means that sport is for everybody:(
ReplyDeleteDefinitely. I've got a 90 year old relative in good mental and physical shape. Well,the interesting thing is that she has always led a sedentary life.
DeleteI'm not advocating sedentarism, but finding a middle way that could fit anyone.
In Romania it is not matter of heart attack for bicycle riders but car accident. We have no roads for cycling.But definitely Cycling is a healthy, low-impact exercise that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from young children to older adults. It is also fun, cheap and good for the environment.Regular cycling stimulates and improves your heart, lungs and circulation, reducing your risk of cardiovascular diseases.
ReplyDeleteCycling strengthens your heart muscles, lowers resting pulse and reduces blood fat levels. Research also shows that people who cycle to work have two to three times less exposure to pollution than car commuters, so their lung function is improved. A Danish study conducted over 14 years with 30,000 people aged 20 to 93 years found that regular cycling protected people from heart disease.:)
True. Everything in your comment is correct. The problem is not with cycling. Cycling is great from any angle one looks at it. The problem is with the cyclists. They should take more precautions, be more cautious. The state should also contribute with more bicycle lanes and emergency devices.
DeleteI'm guessing they weren't cycling slowly but wildly? I go everywhere on foot. I don't particularly like walking, but I walked everywhere since birth as my parents did not have a car nor did they care to buy me monthly bus pass, so I used to walk two hours a day to school and back on all possible weather conditions. I still walk downtown to go shopping as I hate buses. I do it even when it is 50*C outside in the summer. It is my only recreation, especially as I work at home so I don't walk to work everyday.
ReplyDeleteI'm used to say :'walking is my second nature'. Mind you, after a certain age, even walking can have its hazards if one walks a long distance without stopping to rest.
Delete(I suppose working from home has its advantages, such as less stress and commute).
I suppose you can have a heart attack anytime, anywhere. I agree with moderation. When I worked out in a gym, there were people there for hours every day.
ReplyDeleteI do 20 - 30 min./day on the elliptical, and gentle forest walks now!
The two conditions: heart attack and cardiac arrest, are linked but different.
DeleteA heart attack is a blood circulation problem whereas a cardiac arrest is an electrical problem. During a heart attack the heart doesn't stop beating like it does in a cardiac arrest.
Yes, moderation is the key word to avoid these conditions.
Great advice, we have to consciously slow down, I know I am a victim of falls, tripping, etc. These days.
ReplyDeleteIndeed.'slowing down' is the best possible behavior in these circumstances.
DeleteThat's so tragic about the two bicyclers. I hadn't heard of that either. You share a lot of good points about exercising moderation---and exercising in moderation!! I also used to overdo exercise, until I got sick some years ago, something unrelated to exercise, but it made me slow down, and so I understand that about not being a "nutter". If only we can get to the right balance. Great photos of the bicyclers, its not easy to get photos in action like that!!.
ReplyDeleteBalance, moderation - very relevant words.
DeleteThese photos are the only one with cyclists in my photo archive. I notice the 'urban' riders wear no helmets; that is against the law and might endanger their life during a fall or accident.
I never heard of this danger before. And at such young ages. That's so sad.
ReplyDeleteVery sad - people in the prime of their life. There are casualties of all ages, most of them after 60.
DeletePeople use the term heart attack for all heart issues, so one doesn't often hear of the more accurate term of cardiac arrest(stop of heart beating).
This is a scary post for me to see, Duta, given that Rick is a hard-core cyclist and formerly a racer in his younger days. He and his gang do long rides where they really push it with sprints and such. His other bike hikes are long too -- 100-mile days sometimes -- but he does that at his pace which is pretty fast but not what it used to be. He averages about 6,000 miles a year on the bike. So, this is really something to ponder and worry about. I guess this season I won't have to worry quite so much, given that he's missing the first three months of cycling season due to his surgery and recuperation. One good thing is that his heart has been checked and so far seems to be fine. As far as I know, no one from his ride group has ever had a heart attack or illness on the road (unless they crashed, so that's a relief.) Still, food for thought.
ReplyDeleteMany things in life scary us, but we learn from that and take action. 'Better safe than sorry' as they say.
DeleteIt looks like Rick is quite addicted to cycling. It's a positive hobby with many health advantages, so he should stick to it as long as possible. Cycling within a group is highly recommended.
Only 44 and 54...Life is short.
ReplyDeleteSad; in the middle of their life, leaving families with broken hearts.
DeleteLife is not only short, it's often unpredictable.
Congrats on Netanyahu winning!
Delete:)
I don't know if you like him or not...but I was glad to see it.
Thanks Sandi, for taking an interest in our elections.
DeleteThe truth is I don't like any politician (including Netanyahu). However, I must admit he's one of a kind, and what's more important - God seems to like him. When God likes someone, no slander,cursing, ridicule will help any opposition.
Amen to that!
DeleteHere we hear about cyclists having accidents with cars but I had not heard of any cardiac arrests. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteMay neither accidents nor cardiac arrest ever happen! People get hurt and might even lose their life.
DeleteCardiac arrest is, sadly, not a rare event among sportsmen.
I don't know any serious cyclists, but I've heard of lots and lots of what seemed to be healthy people have heart attacks, and sadly, heart attacks are still the number 1 killer of women. Having any type of cardiac problems also cause life insurance rates to skyrocket, or to even be denied. I hate to hear of anyone suffering for any reason though, but it's a fact of life. Hugs...RO
ReplyDeleteYou're right about the high frequency of heart attacks in the general population.
DeleteCardiac arrest is more heard of among sports people, and it can be fatal within minutes, if there's no immediate intervention.
It is sad when someone passes over younger than they should, but perhaps it was their time. But it is worse for the family and friends, who have to deal with the sudden shock, although in my experience the loved one who has passed over does not go far away, but stays close by, only not in this human dimension.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I believe the beloved deceased person remains close by, only not in this human dimension. It's kind of comforting.
DeleteOur pool man died while he was out on his bicycle about 7 years ago.
ReplyDeleteMay his soul rest in peace!
DeleteHe probably lost his life in one of the two tragic options: accident or heart failure.
Moderation is the key of life. It has been YEARS since I rode and I tend to live by my doctors words "Walk as it is a natural physical activity. Peace
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Although it is a subjective term that can mean different things to different people, still we all know its importance - that of avoiding extremes, finding a balance between them.
DeleteThe last time I rode a bicycle was back in 1974...and I rode it not very well!! It had been a long time between rides at that time, too!
ReplyDeleteThese days I have no desire to go peddling.
There are people out there who are addicted to bycycle riding. I never learnt to ride a bicycle. I have an adult tricycle, but I seldom use it.
DeleteEver since my son and family live in Amsterdam I am allergic against bikes ! Each family has at least 5 bikes and they ride like crazy running over everybody ! Tourists are warned ! Imagine !
ReplyDeleteWell, Amsterdam is considered the bicycle capital city in the world, and the most bicycle friendly city.
DeleteMind you, most cyclists there don't wear helmets. That's both strange and dangerous!!! Hopefully your son and family are not among those without helmets.
We had a friend die a few years ago while playing tennis. He was 32 years old and a picture of health. His heart got out of rhythm and he died. He was a doctor and he opponent was also a doctor.
ReplyDeleteI learned afterward that it was not an isolated incident. It happens.
How very sad! I guess the other doctor tried to save him but failed.
DeleteIn a public place like a tennis ground there should be a defibrilator nearby. This device saves lives.
Hard to believe that cycling normally could cause death. In Germany everybody cycles, to work, to school, to the shops, for recreation, etc.
ReplyDeleteI used to love it.
Yes, hard to believe as cycling does so much good to physical and mental health. And yet, the heart might surprise cyclists as it does other people , in other circumstances.
DeleteHow very sad. It's not something I hear about often, but, chances are, these men may have collapsed with any moderate activity. Here in the US, recently, there have been several deaths of high school athletes occurring, when nothing was known to be wrong with them. Turns out, most of the time, it's something with their heart. Very sad. Now that I'm older, I just walk...not slowly, but not at a pace like I did when I was younger.
ReplyDeleteI've changed my walking pace too. Younger people should also not take any chances, as the heart is known to take people by surprise.
DeleteMy son has cycled over Ireland and Switzerland, but that was nearly 15 yrs. ago. His health should be checked out.
ReplyDeleteThat's quite a performance! He's probably an addicted biker.
DeleteRiding a bike is a beautiful and beneficial experience, and yes, health should be checked out.
It was back in my childhood that I last rode a bike and certainly have no desire to do so at present.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy swimming and walking, although these days it's walking that I do the most.
It is always so sad when someone is taken too young and the two you mentioned in your post were too young at 44 and 54.
We do not know what life holds for us, it's best to make every day count.
All the best Jan
Indeed, one doesn't know what life has in store for him. So, we'd better try and make the most of it. We should be grateful for everyday we wake alive.
DeleteSad about the cyclists, too bad. I used to ride my bike a lot but haven't in years, but i try to get a lot of walks in. Love the palm trees and all the good places to bike and walk. The problem for cyclists here is cars, we need more paths for biking and walking too! Have a good rest of the week, Duta!
ReplyDeleteSadly, accidents that involve cars and bicycles happen quite often almost everywhere. And there are never enough lanes for cycling and walking! The municipality promises to do something about it, but doesn't keep its promises.
DeleteThis was sad to read, Duta, about the untimely deaths of the cyclists. I read all the previous comments and while I agree that exercise is good for everyone, it can also be overdone. Since we live close to a downtown area, I tend to walk there rather than take my car. To my way of thinking, I am getting some exercise and saving on other things like gas, aggravation in finding a parking spot and even $ in not paying for one. I also exercise on a treadmill here in our apt building, but lately am planning to cut down a bit as I tend to become obsessive in getting "enough" steps each day. Not overdoing anything is what may be helpful in anything we do.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your concluding sentence "Not overdoing anything..." ; that's the way to go and stay alive as much as possible.
DeleteVery interesting informations, I don't cycle, but I love some yoga☺
ReplyDeleteThank you. Yoga's fine, good for you!
DeleteIf you persevere, it can offer you a lot of health and posture benefits.
It’s really good for you to walk like there’s no tomorrow....hopefully avoiding a sad end 😁
ReplyDeleteSeriously crazy! Who would have thought! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSad. Especially in warmer weather you need to drink plenty of water or other fluids. I always take sports drinks with me in my bag when I go cycling. A bidon (0,75 L) per hour is minimal, two is better. It is most important listen to your body.
ReplyDeleteCycling in the Netherlands is the most popular form of daily transport. Even our prime minister takes the bike :)
https://twitter.com/fietsprofessor/status/1108338992335020033
Even for walking, one should take sufficient water in one's bag.
DeleteListening to our body is always of utmostimportance.