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Working Out: Bad for your heart?


I am not a runner. I never have been and I never plan to be one. However, it is one of those fitness endeavors that I always wanted to do. Runners look so healthy and fit. They seem superior to the less fit humans on the planet somehow. A person who can run fast or long distances is impressive and admired. My husband was a runner and he still loves to watch track. I do not see the draw to watching track. Just sitting there watching someone run around is not entertaining to me. Yet, I longed to be someone who would actually run even if it was just around the block. Perhaps I will give it a go one day. Yet, as beneficial as running is for you it can also be detrimental. Remember the adage that you need to take everything in moderation? Even running falls into that category.

A study published in the European Heart Journal studied the heart health and function of 40 elite long-term endurance athletes. I was not one of them. Elite athlete is not something I could ever be accused of. At any rate, they examined the heart function of these athletes after four endurance races of varying lengths. The researchers measured the cardiac enzymes by ultrasound. This was the method of measuring the effects of extreme exercise on the heart.

The findings included:

Right ventricular (RV) function diminished after races

Blood levels of cardiac enzymes (markers for heart injury) increased

The longer the race, the greater the decrease in RV function

12 percent of the athletes had scar tissue in their heart muscle detected on MRI scans one week after the race

The intense exercise caused dysfunction of the right ventricular yet not the left. The athletes appeared to recover yet long term damage may remain.

It is to be noted that damage to the RV may increase the risk of sudden death. We have all heard the stories of runners who die suddenly. We sit back and wonder how such fit athletes could have a heart problem. Many would conclude that if they can have heart problems then running must not be an effective means to heart health. Actually, heart health is damaged by the “too much” in life whether it be exercise or poor eating habits. Moderation. Moderation. Moderation.

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About Richele McFarlin

Richele is a Christian homeschooling mom to four children, writer and business owner. Her collegiate background is in educational psychology. Although it never prepared her for playing Candyland, grading science, chasing a toddler, doing laundry and making dinner at the same time.