Over-trained Runners Die Sooner

Training too much has proven unhealthy for runners, according to a study which assessed the longevity of life among runners who extensively train.

It is well known that regular cardiovascular activity, such as running, leads to a whole host of health benefits, including weight control, stress reduction, and a preservation of heart-heath.

However, a new research suggests that more is not always better when it comes to running.

According to the results of a recent study, presented at the at the American Colege of Cardiology's 63rd Annual Scientific Session and Exposition In Washington D.C. last weekend, high-mileage runners face a shortened lifespan, compared to moderate runners.

Dr. Martin Matsumura, co-director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute at the Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown, Pa., presented the research findings to his fellow heart-health experts at the ACC meeting.

According to Matsumura, the study analyzed data on more than 3,800 middle-aged runners who were involved in an ongoing online Masters Running Study. Just under 70 percent of these participants reported running more than 20 miles a week.

In order to rule out external influences on the data, Matsumura and his team asked that the runner supply information of their use of common painkillers such as ibuprofen and naproxen -- which have been associated with heart problems. The runners also were required to report known health risk factors, such as a smoking history, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or a family history of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Once this data was taken into consideration, Matsumura's team still was able to conclude that the runners who ran 20 miles or more a day faced shorter life-expectancies than those who ran less.

The reason for this is simple. Runners who over-train are wearing their hearts out. Blood pressure and the ability of a heart to pump blood throughout the body is influenced by the elasticity of the heart's arteries. It is well known that regular endurance activity, such as running, naturally lowers a person's resting heart rate, which in-turn results in a slower rate of wear on the heart. However, pushing a heart to pump blood fast and hard -- an active heart rate -- during training can also put wear on one's arteries. Training to much then can essentially stretch an athlete's arteries out, ruining cardiovascular health regardless of what could be considered healthy behavior.

The results of this study was reported at the ACC's 63rd Annual Scientific Session and Exposition In Washington D.C. this past weekend.

As these results have yet to be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, it is suggested that they be viewed as preliminary findings until the time of official publication. 

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