Cyclists' Heart—A new Disease.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXII, Issue 6700, 18 October 1905, Page 4

Cyclists' Heart—A new Disease.

Alarmed by the serious increase of heart disease among (heir soldiers, the German authorities had two army corps examined with a view to discovering the cau?e. Dr, Beyer now reports that he finds it to be largely due to the modern crnzo for cycling. It seems proved, says th« " Lancet," that clerk?, shopmen, school teacberp, and other persons of sedentary occupation, overstrain their hearts by ci cling long distances ou Sundays without practising sufficiently on weok days. Working mcD, who cycle home alter a day of fatiguing exertion, are also liable to contract haart disease. Dilatation and cordiac irritability are the heart troubles which are most commonly found in cyclists. The severe exertion which they spasmodicallyiudulge in puts upon the heart a great strain, from which even tho most healthy person cannot recover unless they hava strengthened that most important muscle of the body by regular and careful ti aining. It is one of the fallacies of this age of physical culture that violent exercite is beneficial, and it cannot be too often repeated that, for persons of weak constitution, or of sedentary occupation, gentle and easy forme of exercise, such as walking, are far better than long-distance ridiDg on a bicycle.