Marathon Deaths Raise Cardiac Questions

Sunday’s Detroit Marathon turned tragic when three runners collapsed and died while running the race.

One runner, age 60, fell and hit his head. But two younger men, ages 26 and 36, both collapsed at the finish line. Autopsies are scheduled, but medical personnel are assuming the men died of cardiac arrest.

It’s an unlikely story. Both men were avid runners, had been training for the race, and were only running the half marathon on Sunday, or 13.1 miles. Families of the runners said they had no known medical problems. The weather during the early morning race was cool and clear, so neither heat nor humidity were factors.

So what happened to these men? Their deaths are raising the question of how distance running affects the heart.

The NY Times blog wrote an article about the effects of marathon and half marathon running on the heart. A study they cited found that “blood profiles like those displayed by runners at the finish line are similar to those seen in a very mild heart attack.”

But a doctor quoted in the same article goes on to state that “I don’t think most people who are going to run a marathon need to worry about their hearts. The indications are that nothing serious is going on. You are almost certainly doing your heart a favor (by running).”

It’s possible the men may have had underlying heart conditions the families were unaware of. In any case, it’s a good idea to keep a few things in mind while running…

If you experience shortness of breath or chest pains while running, stop and seek medical attention immediately. Runners over the age of 40 need to be sure they don’t have uncontrolled heart risk factors, including high blood pressure or cholesterol. Smokers also are at increased risk as are those with diabetes or a family history of heart attack at a young age. People with any kind of heart abnormality should be sure to get a doctor’s clearance before competing in a marathon or half marathon.

I am a firm believe in the many benefits – both physical and mental – of running (and running races). But as with any sport, always listen to your body. If you feel abnormally stressed, faint, dizzy or weak, stop immediately and seek treatment.

According to 2008 statistics, there were only 26 heart-attack deaths among 3,292,000 American runners who competed in 750 marathons that year (or 1 in 125,000 runners).

Our condolences go out to the families of all three racers from Detroit.