Running is not a high-risk activity, however, marathons often report fatal outcomes in at least one of their thousands of participants. This is how it happened last Sunday at the Medellín Marathon 2022: a cardiorespiratory arrest led to the death of Jorge Andrei Valencia García, a 35-year-old man.
Although the exact incidence of deaths due to unexpected heart failure, in healthy people, is difficult to determine, according to the doctor Juan Gabriel Cendales, executive director of the Fundación Cardioinfantil, this condition in people over 30 years of age is, in its great most, due to coronary artery disease (damage to the blood vessels of the heart).
“That it happens to younger athletes is much less common”, continues Cendales, “and in them, it is generally due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (thickening of the myocardium), congenital anomalies (due to genetic causes) or anomalies of the electrical conduction system of the heart. heart”.
That such events occur is not a surprise. According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular conditions are the leading cause of death in America: a total of 2 million people die annually from ischemic heart disease (blockages or damage to blood vessels) and stroke.
The following questions were left on the social networks of EL COLOMBIANO, following the marathon incident. We solved them in the company of Juan Guillermo and also Mauricio Duque, head of the Cardiology and Electrophysiology postgraduate course at CES University.
Why does it give a cardiac arrest?
Cardiac arrest (or stopping of the heart) is usually triggered by a cardiac arrhythmia, a rhythm disturbance caused by an electrical disorder that occurs in the heart. This can be ventricular fibrillation (contractions in the lower chambers of the heart) or tachycardia (more than 100 beats per minute). It is usually a consequence of a change, structural or genetic damage in the heart. A healthy heart does not have to present arrhythmias.
Can you give for “overexerting”?
The main causes of cardiac arrest in athletes are usually genetic diseases: hypertrophic heart disease (thickening of the heart muscle), arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (normal heart cells replaced by fibrous and fatty tissue), among others. They are usually inherited pathologies. However, sport ceases to be healthy when the body is not adequately prepared for a high-intensity exercise load (marathons, for example).
Can anyone run?
For a marathon (42 km) you must train with a professional for at least two years. Likewise, the ideal is to have previously participated in two half marathons (21 km), and be able to train between 50 and 70 km per week. Important: Before undergoing a high-intensity physical activity test, you should talk to your doctor or physical trainer. However, on many occasions sudden death is the first and only manifestation of the disease. Even while at rest.
Previous exams?
There is a simple questionnaire used to detect cardiovascular problems in healthy people who want to do physical exercise of low, medium or high intensity. It is called the PAR-Q and it is used to know if you should consult a doctor before starting to exercise. Similarly, for any type of competition that involves physical effort, the ideal is to do a previous cardiovascular evaluation, for example, an electrocardiogram or an echocardiogram depending on the patient’s history.
Can it happen to a healthy young man?
In 70% of cases of sudden death, the causes are unknown. Among the risk factors that asymptomatic people present the most, who suffer a sudden death event, there is a family history of coronary artery disease, high levels of cholesterol in the blood, hypertension, smoking habit and it is very common that many of these patients have previously had an abnormal electrocardiogram, while at rest or while exercising.
Could it be because of the covid vaccine?
No, there is no study that shows a causal relationship between sudden death during exercise and vaccination once morest covid. Coronary heart disease has multiple causes in which high cholesterol, hypertension and diabetes play a fundamental role. Getting sick with covid-19, meanwhile, has been linked to myocarditis (inflammation of the heart), but it has not been described as causing coronary heart disease or acute myocardial infarction.
Why are some saved and others not?
The previous condition of the individual is fundamental. If the patient is poorly hydrated, cardiopulmonary resuscitation may be ineffective. Similarly, it influences the time to respond to the emergency and the necessary tools. Portable defibrillators should always be available and reach the site in less than 5 minutes. If treated like this, 99% of people can be saved and then be referred to a cardiology service. In other cases, arrhythmias are simply lethal.
How to prevent cardiac arrest?
Adopting a healthy lifestyle is the best way to do it. Quit smoking, eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and reduced amounts of salt, sugar and fat. Exercise at least 30 minutes a day and try to lose weight if you are above the recommended weight. Finally, keep an eye on your blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes levels. If you have already been diagnosed, follow your doctor’s orders and comply with the assigned medication.
