In recent years, marathons and other high-intensity activities have become a popular way for many people in Hong Kong to pursue better health and challenge themselves. However, these demanding activities place considerable strain on the heart and lungs. Even someone who appears healthy may have an undetected heart condition that becomes apparent during strenuous exercise, potentially leading to a heart attack or sudden death. Before heading to the starting line, understanding and undergoing appropriate heart checks is an important step in protecting your health. This article discusses heart health assessment before exercise to help you enjoy sport safely.
Why Can Marathons and High-Intensity Exercise Pose Heart Risks?
During high-intensity exercise, the body’s metabolic rate rises substantially. To meet the muscles’ increased demand for oxygen, the heart must pump blood faster. In a long-distance marathon, particularly in Hong Kong’s often hot and humid weather, runners may develop overheating, dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. These physiological stresses can cause blood vessels to dilate, blood pressure to fluctuate and, in some cases, reduced oxygen supply to the heart muscle.
Exercise-related sudden death is often associated with an underlying condition the runner did not know about, such as congenital thickening of the heart muscle or another inherited heart disease, undiagnosed coronary artery disease, or a serious heart rhythm disorder. As these conditions often cause no symptoms in everyday life, a professional medical assessment may help identify them early and reduce the risks.
Who Should Particularly Consider a Pre-Race Heart Assessment?
Every runner preparing for an event should pay attention to heart health. If any of the following applies to you, seek medical advice before starting intensive training:
- Middle-aged runners: The risk of coronary artery disease increases with age, particularly for men over 45 and women over 55.
- People with the “three highs”: High blood pressure, high blood sugar or high cholesterol can increase the likelihood of atherosclerosis.
- People with a family history of heart disease: If a close relative had a heart attack at a young age or died suddenly without an apparent cause, your inherited risk may also be higher.
- People who have experienced warning signs: These include chest pressure or pain, palpitations, headache or unexplained fainting during exercise.
- Beginners taking on a major challenge: This includes people who do not exercise regularly but suddenly decide to enter a middle- or long-distance running event.
