In modern society, more and more people have begun to pay attention to sports, especially long-distance running events such as marathons, which has become one of the choices for many people to pursue health and challenge themselves.
However, is excessive exercise really good for the body? The People's Daily once published a piece of news.
Mr. Jin from Hangzhou, who is in his fifties, has formed an indissoluble bond with the marathon. Since the age of forty, he has embarked on this path as a runner, and the cause is nothing more than the troubles of middle-aged fortune. Within a few months, he gained a lot of weight, and he chose running as a way to lose weight. Unexpectedly, this run made him want to stop. Mr. Jin developed the habit of running 10 kilometers along the Qiantang River the next day, and this persistence was ten years.
Over the course of 10 years, he has become a big fan of marathons and has participated in many races. On the 42-kilometre course, he set a time of 3 hours and 20 minutes. However, the challenge of running on the flat was no longer enough for him, and he began to challenge the mountain marathon, running while enjoying the beauty of nature.
One year, in a mountain marathon in Taizhou, he set off from dawn and went through a 16-hour fierce battle. However, one day in April last year, after running 8 kilometers, Mr. Jin suddenly went black and fainted. Luckily, he quickly regained consciousness. This accident deeply shocked Mr. Kim, and he began to wonder, what was going on?
A few days later, Mr. Kim mustered up the courage to take on a second challenge. To ensure safety, he deliberately wears a professional heart rate belt that fits snugly against his chest to monitor his heartbeat. As he reached the halfway point, the familiar feeling of vertigo gripped him again, and his vision was blurred, like a premonition before the last time he fainted.
He quickly stopped, glanced at the heart rate band, and was shocked to find that his heart rate had soared above 170. Although the symptoms eased after a short rest, Mr. Kim knew that something must be wrong with his body.
He went to the hospital for a check-up and was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, which the doctor pointed out could be related to his long-term high-intensity running and overwhelming his heart. As a result, doctors advised him to switch to a softer form of exercise.
Mr. Kim is now reluctant to run, and his daily activities are limited to leisurely walks, even playing ball with caution for fear of further accidents.
心脏负荷
There is a popular opinion on the Internet that the human heart beats roughly 2.5 billion to 3 billion times in its lifetime. Although there is controversy about the relationship between heart rate and longevity, it is undeniable that high-intensity exercise significantly increases the workload on the heart. This increase in load is not only a matter of increased heart rate, but also involves changes in the structure of the heart and the burden of function.
The heart is a powerful pump that works non-stop minute by minute to pump blood throughout the body. During high-intensity exercise, the body's demand for oxygen and nutrients increases dramatically, and the heart must work twice as hard to meet this demand. In the long term, the heart muscle undergoes adaptive changes, which can improve exercise performance to some extent, but can also pose risks.
People who regularly engage in high-intensity and long-term exercise may have pathological changes in the structure of the heart, such as myocardial hypertrophy or cardiomegaly. These changes are not always beneficial, and once they are not safe, they can lead to serious heart diseases such as irregular heartbeats, heart failure, etc.
Studies have shown that long-term high-intensity exercise may lead to abnormal electrical activity in the heart, such as atrial fibrillation. This not only seriously affects the quality of life, but can also lead to serious consequences such as sudden death.
Therefore, for the general population, especially those who have not undergone special training and assessment, it is not advisable to easily challenge high-intensity cardiac load exercise. Everyone's physical condition is different, and blindly pursuing exercise intensity while ignoring the body's ability to withstand it is tantamount to gambling on health.
The plight of the athlete
Studies have found that many professional athletes often face cardiomegaly and reduced function after retirement. This is closely related to long-term, high-intensity practice and competition. The heart gets stronger with sustained high-intensity exercise, but that doesn't always mean healthier. In fact, overtraining can have a negative impact on heart structure and function.
Mr. Kim's situation is similar, and long-term strenuous marathon exercise can lead to heart muscle hypertrophy and other adverse effects. Heart muscle hypertrophy is because the heart needs to pump blood harder to meet the body's needs, which increases the thickness of the heart wall over time. Although it enhances the ability to pump blood, in the long run, hypertrophy of the heart muscle affects the flexibility and metabolic efficiency of the heart.
In addition, this type of excessive exercise can also lead to cardiac arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation, which is one of the problems that Mr. Kim faces. Atrial fibrillation not only causes heart palpitations and fatigue, but may also increase the risk of stroke and other serious cardiovascular events.
For athletes, it is still necessary to pay attention to heart health after retirement, with regular physical examinations and moderate physical activity to prevent further deterioration of heart function.
For amateur runners, only by scientifically and reasonably adjusting their exercise methods and avoiding high-intensity and long-term strenuous exercise can they truly maintain their heart health.
Scientific exercise advice
Experts advise that ordinary people should not challenge extreme sports such as marathons at will, but should exercise moderately.
The physical condition of different individuals varies greatly, and it is unscientific to advocate a certain kind of high-intensity exercise across the board. Modern medical research has shown that a healthy heart rate is between 55-75 beats per minute, and too fast or too slow is not good for heart health.
Therefore, it is advisable to fully assess your cardiorespiratory fitness before doing any exercise. Through professional physical examination and consultation, you can understand whether you are suitable for high-intensity exercise and develop an exercise plan that is in line with your personal health condition.
Moderate, regular exercise is the key to staying healthy, rather than blindly pushing your limits to the limits. Especially in long-term endurance sports such as marathons, long-term high-intensity loads can cause irreversible damage to the heart and body.
Therefore, ordinary people should treat exercise rationally, do not blindly follow the trend, and choose a suitable and healthy exercise method within their own ability. Not only can you enjoy the health benefits of exercise, but you can also avoid the health problems caused by excessive exercise.
Exercise is good, but it also needs to be done within your means. Although high-intensity physical exertion can bring some physical fulfillment, it is by no means a long-term solution.
Scientific studies have shown that moderate, regular exercise has multiple benefits for the body, including increased cardiorespiratory fitness, reduced body fat percentage, and improved mental health. However, excessive exercise, especially long-term endurance activities such as high-intensity marathons, can cause irreversible damage to the heart.
Every sports enthusiast is reminded that health is a long-term goal that does not need to be achieved and should not be achieved through extreme means. Only by following the doctor's advice, understanding your own health status, and exercising scientifically and moderately, can you truly stay away from the risks caused by excessive exercise and enjoy the beauty of a healthy life.
When it comes to running, do you want to challenge yourself to refresh yourself or jog daily to stay healthy? Welcome to leave a message to share!