As someone who continues to struggle with overexercise problems, my (potentially scarred) heart sank a bit when I read this New York Times article about a study that shows that hard-core athletes have significantly higher levels of scar tissue on the heart than people of similar ages that were not rigorous athletes. Kind of disheartening (pun intended, I'll be honest), but something to be aware of, so I wanted to share.
There have been more than a few periods of my life where a turnaround in ED behaviors was motivated purely by fear because my heart palpitations had gotten so bad. I had to wear a Holter monitor once in high school, and I think if anything could have served as an eye-opener, it was that.
It also struck me that the study subjects were male marathoners (the authors do say that they predict the results would be consistent in women, although a female trial hasn't been conducted yet) and lab rats, most of whom probably kept themselves as well nourished and fueled as possible during the competition days, it would be interesting to see a study on the degree to which nutritional stress exacerbates this effect.
4 comments:
Not much I can say except it's scary stuff when you let yourself think about it. We just had a 16-year-old high school basketball player die of a heart attack after making the game-winning shot in the game. Umm...16?
It goes to show that no amount of careful planning can cancel out our fate, but more importantly, that we shouldn't stack the death deck anymore than necessary. I've had those scary moments as well, but as soon as they go away, so do the rational thoughts.
Something to keep in mind more often. ;)
I agree with what Abby said.
It's so weird because I JUST posted the link to this article on my Facebook page. I used to overdo it too, and my heart, instead of being "stronger" as I believed, just seemed to titter and frail up. I wonder if it's irreversible?
I think this will be a really helpful study. So often exercise is seen in the same short sighted way as weight loss - the more, the better. As anyone with an eating disorder knows, there most certain IS such a thing as too thin. And now this study shows that there is most likely such a thing as getting too much exercise. Interesting and scary!
Consider this. If you fail to fuel your body for your exercise, and your body has already attempted to accommodate the added demands by slowing your metabolic rate (as evidenced by a slowed heart rate/pulse, and decreased body temp) then the only other thing for it to do is break down internal tissue. And it doesn't selective go for fat--even if you had plenty! It simultaneously breaks down muscle and fat--and your heart is a muscle of choice.
So please give that some thought when you think that exercise is always healthy!
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