Older Runners’ Hearts Healthy Enough for Marathons
Do not let age stop you from running a marathon. A new study shows older amateur runners from age 50 to 72 can run marathons without adverse effects to their hearts. Researchers have found older runners experienced some temporary heart changes after a 26.2 mile run, but no permanent damage.
For the study, 167 runners with an average age of 50 from the 2006 and 2007 Berlin Marathon races were observed. All of the runners have completed at least one 26 mile marathon. Doctors examined the runners 10 days prior to the race, right after they completed the race, and two weeks after the race.
Doctors found their normal heart rate per minute jumped from 62 to 88 at the end of the race. The runners also displayed increased levels of troponin T and/or N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, markers of heart damage, right when they finished the race. However, after two weeks their hearts returned to normal. What could be attributed to heart changes for older marathon runners could be dehydration according to researchers.
Dehydration is always the biggest problem for a marathon runner. Dehydration can lead to dangerous high heartbeats. Marathon runners tend not to drink water during runs because it slows them down, but ultimately may be their downfall in the long run.
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