Health & Medicine
Antarctica's Famous Explorer, Shackleton, May Have Suffered from a Hole in His Heart
Catherine Griffin
First Posted: Jan 18, 2016 10:28 AM EST
It turns out that the famous Antarctic explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton, may have suffered from a hole in his heart. Scientists have taken a closer look at the inspirational explorer and have found that he may have suffered from a congenital defect.
While Shackleton was able to exert himself physically, he sometimes suffered from attacks of breathlessness and weakness. Scientists have long wondered the cause of Shackleton's physical breakdowns, and now researchers may have an answer.
"The evidence rests in diary entries made by Eric Marshall, the medical officer of Shackleton's second expedition to the Antarctic in 1907-9," said Ian Calder, one of the researchers, in a news release. "The detection and treatment of an atrial septal defect is now reasonably straightforward, but was not available to Shackleton."
The researchers believe that Shackleton knew he had something wrong with his heart because he avoided being examined by doctors who might have tried to prevent him going to Antarctica. The researchers also made use of material held in the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge to diagnose an atrial septal defect.
"Some may feel that Sir Ernest was irresponsible in undertaking the leadership of Antarctic expeditions if he suspected a problem, but to paraphrase Dr. Johnson, there is seldom a shortage of prudent people, whilst the great things are done by those who are prepared to take a risk," said Calder.
The findings reveal that despite health problems, Shackleton successfully led expeditions to the Antarctic.
The findings are published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.
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First Posted: Jan 18, 2016 10:28 AM EST
It turns out that the famous Antarctic explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton, may have suffered from a hole in his heart. Scientists have taken a closer look at the inspirational explorer and have found that he may have suffered from a congenital defect.
While Shackleton was able to exert himself physically, he sometimes suffered from attacks of breathlessness and weakness. Scientists have long wondered the cause of Shackleton's physical breakdowns, and now researchers may have an answer.
"The evidence rests in diary entries made by Eric Marshall, the medical officer of Shackleton's second expedition to the Antarctic in 1907-9," said Ian Calder, one of the researchers, in a news release. "The detection and treatment of an atrial septal defect is now reasonably straightforward, but was not available to Shackleton."
The researchers believe that Shackleton knew he had something wrong with his heart because he avoided being examined by doctors who might have tried to prevent him going to Antarctica. The researchers also made use of material held in the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge to diagnose an atrial septal defect.
"Some may feel that Sir Ernest was irresponsible in undertaking the leadership of Antarctic expeditions if he suspected a problem, but to paraphrase Dr. Johnson, there is seldom a shortage of prudent people, whilst the great things are done by those who are prepared to take a risk," said Calder.
The findings reveal that despite health problems, Shackleton successfully led expeditions to the Antarctic.
The findings are published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.
Related Articles
Frozen, Wounded Mammoth Gives a New Timeline for the Arrival of Humans in the Arctic
World's Largest Canyon Discovered Hidden Beneath Antarctic Ice
For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone