ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, November 13, 1996 TAG: 9611130053
SECTION: NATL/INTL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NEW ORLEANS
SOURCE: Associated Press
Spotting a deer during hunting season is a thrill - maybe even a dangerous one.
A study of middle-age male hunters tramping through the woods found that the heart races wildly at the sight of a big buck - maybe more than some folks can stand.
During a typical deer season in Michigan, a dozen hunters die of heart attacks. So researchers from William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich., rigged up 25 hunters with portable heart monitors to see what happens.
``Just seeing a deer, not even taking a shot, the heart rate shoots up,'' said Susan Haapaniemi, an exercise physiologist who coordinated the study.
Some men's heart rates would almost double when they spotted a deer, even if they were standing completely still. One fellow's heart soared from 78 to 168 beats per minute when he caught a glimpse of a 10-point buck. No one in the study actually dropped dead in the woods.
Studies have shown that sudden strenuous exercise - a little more than what it takes to climb stairs - can be enough to trigger a heart attack in people with underlying heart disease.
``Deer hunting falls into that category,'' Haapaniemi said. ``We have shown that hunting is an extremely strenuous activity and might be dangerous for some people.''
The researchers put the men on treadmills to find their maximum heart rates. It turned out that in the woods, their hearts often beat this fast, especially when walking, shooting at a deer or dragging out a carcass.
When questioned afterward, though, many of them had no idea their hearts had been racing.
Haapaniemi has these recommendations for hunters:
* Get on an exercise program to build up your endurance before hunting season.
* See a doctor to check for heart disease, especially if you smoke, have high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol or other risk factors.
* Take frequent breaks, especially if winded.
* Don't drag out a deer if you have heart disease. Get help instead.
LENGTH: Short : 47 linesby CNB