People who have the ability to run non-stop for more than 10 kilometres let alone 50 would be considered ultra fit and healthy, but a new study has shown that high-endurance activities such as marathon running may lead to permanent heart damage and other health complications.
The study out of the University of Melbourne has found that there is an increased risk of permanent scarring and arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) as the hearts right ventricle function is decreased due to long periods of 'over-training'.
Researchers tested 40 elite athletes with no history of heart problems who train to compete in various endurance events.
The test results found that the right ventricle function of the athlete's heart decreased immediately after racing, and changed shape, growing in volume, affecting blood flow to the body's vital organs.
Most athletes recovered after a week however there was evidence of potentially permanent scarring in five of the subjects. Over time this could weaken forming a bulge of tissue known as aneurysm which could affect its ability to pump blood to the lungs, resulting in heart failure.
Lead researcher Dr Andre La Gerche, from the University of Melbourne, Australia, said: "Our study identifies the right ventricle as being most susceptible to exercise-induced injury and suggests that the right ventricle should be a focus of attention as we try to determine the clinical significance of these results".
Most arrhythmias are harmless, but some can be serious or even life threatening as it can affect the amount of blood flow to the body's vital organs like the brain.
"My personal feeling is that extreme endurance exercise probably does cause damage to the heart in some athletes," Dr La Gerche added. "I don't believe that the human body is designed to exercise at full stretch for as long as 11 hours a day, so damage to the heart is not implausible."
While it is healthier to be participating in activities such as running than watching it on television researchers hope to encourage people who could be at risk of cardiac 'over-training' syndrome, to allow adequate recovering time after training and marathon events, and hope the discovery will prompt the development of suitable treatments and preventative measures.
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