Extreme Sports Hit the Heart

Extreme endurance sports, such as rowing, marathon running and long-distance cycling are designed to push your heart to the limit. However, according to research at the University Clinics of Innsbruck, some events may push you too far.

Dr Guenther Neumayr and his team studied 16 endurance cyclists taking part in the "Race Across the Alps" for evidence of injury to heart muscle cells. The event is a 508km race across the Alps at altitudes of up to 8-9,000 ft.

Researchers found elevated levels of cardiac troponins I(cTnl) and T(cTnT) in some cyclists immediately after the event, representing 'significant' injury to heart muscles.

Other studies have found similar effects in marathon and 'ultra-distance' runners.

Whilst the evidence of injury to heart muscles is short-lived in most studies, experts are concerned as to whether damage done to the heart is reversible and how such events affect people with lower levels of training.

Tuesday, 12 March 2002