New research suggests that intense exercise can damage your heart, at least for some people. The researchers showed that overexertion in marathons and triathlons can cause damage to the right ventricle of the heart. The research was published in the European Heart Journal [2] and their press release also featured on BBC Health News.
For most individuals damage from intense exercise is reversible within a week of a competitive event, but 5 participants (13%) of the 40 athletes studied showed permanent heart damage. The damage was visible using Magnetic Resonance Scanning (MRI). Interesting, these 5 participants had been competing in endurance events considerably longer than other athletes in the study. The study suggests that certain people may be susceptible to damage as a result of intense exercise over a long period of time.
One of the researchers, Dr André La Gerche (MD, PhD) said
"It is most important that our findings are not over-extrapolated to infer that endurance exercise is unhealthy. Our data do not support this premise…Virtually all of the changes in the athletes’ hearts had resolved one week after having taken part in a competitive event. In most athletes, a combination of sensible training and adequate recovery should cause an improvement in heart muscle function; that is, the heart rebuilds in a manner such that it is more capable of sustaining a similar exercise stimulus in the future…
Our study identifies the right ventricle as being most susceptible to exercise-induced injury and suggest that the right ventricle should be a focus of attention as we try to determine the clinical significance of these results. Large, prospective, multi-center trials are required to elucidate whether extreme exercise may promote arrhythmias in some athletes. To draw an analogy, some tennis players develop tennis elbow. This does not mean that tennis is bad for you; rather it identifies an area of susceptibility on which to focus treatment and preventative measures.
It is important to note that this is one component of an evolving understanding of how the right ventricle is the ‘Achilles heel’ of heart function during exercise. We previously studied heart function during intense exercise and demonstrated that the load on the right ventricle (stress, work and oxygen demand) increases to a greater extent than in any of the other heart chambers. Professor Hein Heidbuchel, who I work with, has shown that the source of ventricular arrhythmias in affected athletes is almost always the right ventricle. Finally, it has been shown that intense exercise in rats causes inflammation, fibrosis and arrhythmias in the right but not the left ventricle. Hence, there are consistent messages, all implicating the right ventricle and yet it has been neglected in the vast majority of studies regarding cardiac changes in athletes. Now there is sufficient evidence to invest in the long-term prospective studies that are required.”
Another study showed that shoveling snow raises the risk of a heart attack. Heavy physical exertion can cause damage to coronary arteries. The study recommends that people should take breaks when doing heavy physical exercise (such as shoveling snow), especially if they exercise rarely or if they smoke.
Both these studies have caused me to reconsider my daily morning exercise regime. Currently I carry two 12 pound dumbbells up 2000 stairs every morning. I must admit, I have felt some pains in the chest on occasion. But there have been benefits. Since I started this exercise program six months ago I have lost 8 kilograms of weight.
Tim Ferris on on his four hour work week blog posted an interesting story about a US Military special operator who could accomplish amazing endurance feats but with less intensive training. I picked up a great tip which I will apply. The tip is to always breath through your nose during intense exercise, never through your mouth. If you find you have to breath through your mouth then you need to stop and rest. The nose breathing acts as stopper to prevent over training.
So now when I walk up the mountain each morning I ensure that I breathe in through my nose as a regulator against over exertion and possible damage to my heart. I will also enjoy the process of walking up the mountain, not the goal of getting to the top.
[1] Image by Georgio under CC BY
[2] "Exercise induced right ventricular dysfunction and structural remodeling in endurance athletes". European Heart Journal
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About Danny Sheehan
Danny lives in Hong Kong but is originally from Australia. He is Married to Maggie and together they have two children with whom they enjoy sharing and enjoying an exciting life with daily. Danny's passions are freedom, adventure and discovery, mainly in nature and science but also spiritually. He is a great believer in living in the NOW. More about Danny Sheehan
Healthy Living