You don't sound like you're guessing?
Good of you jump in with both feet!
Sure, but Connor Goldson would fit into the middle ground, right? Wasn't fit to play, but didn't have to retire either, had to have surgery instead.
I do research on heart disase so I know a few things, but I am not 'in the know' with respect to this player...
First of all, like everyone else here we don't know what his condition is. There is a range of possibilities. If he has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart), that is not secondary to aortic stenosis (narrowed blood vessel that leaves the heart - can be widned - Goldson), he's in the same boat as a couple of the poor lads who dropped dead on the pitch (unusually large heart for no special reason other than genes, first diagnosed by autopsy...). I really think this, therefore, is unlikely. These days the clubs are a bit more aware of this and so certain tests will be done as a matter of routine. Some conditions are more prevalent in certain populations, and so there ought to be a greater amount of diligence and hence early diagnosis. But even if he is basically well, he'd probably be uninsurable.
Whatever he has was diagnosed. Whatever he has has not, as far as I am aware, been addressed with surgery. Given the 'difference of opinion' situation, my guess is, if it is cardiomyopathy (and I stress we do not know this) he has a big heart but not big enough for it to yet be clear whether it is just a bit on the big side for an athlete, or it is teetering on the pathological. Most athletes get an enlarged heart to a degree - exercise makes muscle cells bigger. This is normal.
What else might it be? It is unlikely he has catecholamine-dependent ventricular arrhythmias (stress or exercise causing irregular heart beat) because these are potentially serious, yet easily treatable with beta blockers (albeit these cause fatigue which may be incompatible with being a footballer). There are genetic conditions related to mutations of genes that code for ion channels in the heart (electrical stuff - basis of the ECG) but these are symptomless and would not represnt a condition until the person becomes ill (and 'ill' here could be sudden cardiac death).
So I am unsure why the kerfuffle but if he is uninsurable for whatever reason, he be wise to find another job.
BTW, hole in the heart and diabetes are not in the frame - if symptomless and managed, respectively.
It sounds like having a large heart can be either quite distinct or quite slight, with everything in between. If he has a slightly large heart, it may be ok (within normal deviation, as Zurich said - noting that we don't know he has a large heart at all, it's just a possibility), or around the edge of what's considered at risk. An insurance company wanting to take no part in any risk is different to what a player would choose to do. I'd hate to have to find another job if I was a talented footballer. Of course health is more important, but if experts think you'll be fine that would be a tough decision.
I do research on heart disase so I know a few things, but I am not 'in the know' with respect to this player...
First of all, like everyone else here we don't know what his condition is. There is a range of possibilities. If he has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart), that is not secondary to aortic stenosis (narrowed blood vessel that leaves the heart - can be widned - Goldson), he's in the same boat as a couple of the poor lads who dropped dead on the pitch (unusually large heart for no special reason other than genes, first diagnosed by autopsy...). I really think this, therefore, is unlikely. These days the clubs are a bit more aware of this and so certain tests will be done as a matter of routine. Some conditions are more prevalent in certain populations, and so there ought to be a greater amount of diligence and hence early diagnosis. But even if he is basically well, he'd probably be uninsurable.
Whatever he has was diagnosed. Whatever he has has not, as far as I am aware, been addressed with surgery. Given the 'difference of opinion' situation, my guess is, if it is cardiomyopathy (and I stress we do not know this) he has a big heart but not big enough for it to yet be clear whether it is just a bit on the big side for an athlete, or it is teetering on the pathological. Most athletes get an enlarged heart to a degree - exercise makes muscle cells bigger. This is normal.
What else might it be? It is unlikely he has catecholamine-dependent ventricular arrhythmias (stress or exercise causing irregular heart beat) because these are potentially serious, yet easily treatable with beta blockers (albeit these cause fatigue which may be incompatible with being a footballer). There are genetic conditions related to mutations of genes that code for ion channels in the heart (electrical stuff - basis of the ECG) but these are symptomless and would not represnt a condition until the person becomes ill (and 'ill' here could be sudden cardiac death).
So I am unsure why the kerfuffle but if he is uninsurable for whatever reason, he be wise to find another job.
BTW, hole in the heart and diabetes are not in the frame - if symptomless and managed, respectively.
