A collaborative study by Swiss, German, and American scientists, published in the journal JAMA Cardiology, has concluded a long-standing debate regarding whether intense endurance exercise damages heart function in the long term.
For 10 years, researchers monitored amateur male runners with an average age of 43. The observation included detailed examinations of heart functions before a 2009 marathon, immediately upon its completion, in the following days, and most importantly, 10 years later.
The study utilized high-tech methods:
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3D echocardiography to examine the condition of the heart’s ventricles.
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Blood tests to determine levels of Troponin T (a protein released when the heart muscle is damaged).
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Electrocardiograms (ECG) to detect arrhythmias.
In sports medicine, there was a lingering fear that intense strain might lead to chronic dysfunction of the right ventricle or tissue damage. The study revealed the following:
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Immediately after finishing the marathon, runners showed a decrease in right ventricular function (ejection fraction) and an increase in Troponin T levels.
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By the third day after the marathon, heart functions had completely returned to normal.
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Ten years later, despite repeated training and competitions, the runners’ right ventricular function remained stable. No correlation was found between the post-marathon rise in Troponin and long-term deterioration of cardiac function.
Scientists conclude that the ‘cardiac fatigue’ and elevation of biomarkers caused during a marathon are merely temporary phenomena. For amateur athletes who regularly engage in sports activities, this does not serve as a precursor to structural heart damage or functional degradation.
Thus, intense physical activity remains one of the primary guarantees of health and longevity, without the risk of heart damage.
