Finishing a
42 kilometer marathon race is not an easy goal and researchers find out that
you could be stressing your heart if you’re not fit or don’t train properly.
A new small
study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology finds out that less-fit
runners could damage their cardiac muscle. While the heart bounces back, it
could take some time.
Twenty
amateur marathon runners who had run in the Quebec City Marathon were evaluated by
a research team from Universite Laval. The scientists observed and tested the
participants 6-8 weeks prior to the race and on the race day itself. Participants
were tested again within 48 hours after finishing the marathon. MRI scans and
blood sampling are included in the tests.
Findings
showed decreased left and right ventricular function among half of the research
participants. Some also showed swelling and reduce in blood flow. However, the
effects had reversed to runners who underwent a third MRI after resting for 3
months.
Senior
author Dr. Eric Larose says they also found heart muscle transient changes to
runners with lower fitness and less training.
The findings reveal that no permanent injury was observed among the participants but there
may be a minimum fitness level for the heart to bounce back from intensive
training and running a marathon race.
Moreover,
these results underline the need for recreational distance runners to engage in
proper training before running a marathon race, says Larose.
A separate
2012 study published in the Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance found
that 50-year old and older should have a proper training to safely run a
marathon without risking serious damage to the heart. They also need to stay
hydrated throughout the race, the study emphasize.
