ALLAYING SOME FEARS FROM OVER-SENSATIONAL REPORTING OF
HIGHLY QUALIFIED RESULTS OF DATA ON RUNNING AND
INFLAMMATORY MARKERS AND ENZYMES
Glenn -- My wife, who is not a runner, was very upset after reading that article.
It made her think my long distance training and racing would result in heart
disease or heart damage.
I hope more information comes out to clarify the study's results in non technical terms and allay my wife's concerns -- cause I don't want to stop running!
Marc
Sure, Marc!
Tell her from me, that I was running next to you (at least near the beginning) of both races, and I am definitely interested in a healthy heart and have a degree in "Health Promotion/Disease Prevention"! In addition, I have had my blood drawn before and after every Boston marathon of the last eight, and am a participant in the study from which the data are derived. I have heard Art Siegel present the results annually at the American Medical Athletic Association, and the results are unequivocal---endurance running is a heart-healthy exercise and protective against atherosclerotic events. That markers of inflammation may also be present after a long hard run is, of course, not only possible, but likely from other sources than the heart. That such factors may also be found after some heart attacks is also true, but in a patient population with a very different profile than distance runners.
If you take my first reply to your email, you will see that the actual results of the trial show the distinct absence of "clinical events"---that is, symptoms or other physical evidence of any heart damage,---in a population that, if drawn from the general population would be at risk for such events--but for their running and endurance training!
This is encouraging! It is worthwhile and important information. It is so valuable that I will be back at it again in April to run and give my blood all over again to re-emphasize the point. And, I will see you again, happily, as we did several times at long distance runs in just the past week!
Cheers!
GWG