July 31, 2014

Heat Fells More Distance Runners Than Do Hearts

An analysis of 130,000 runners in events during a seven-year span revealed that competitors were 10 times more likely to experience heat stroke than serious cardiac problems. Dina Fine Maron reports

By Dina Fine Maron

SUBSCRIBE TO 60-Second Health

Apple | Spotify | RSS

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

Long-distance runners may at times worry about their heart health while pounding out the miles. But a study finds that heat stroke fells many more runners than does a bum ticker.

Heat stroke can damage a person’s brain, heart, kidneys and muscles. And new data underscores the toll it takes.

Researchers examined health records from more than 130,000 runners who competed in events in Tel Aviv during a seven-year span. The analysis revealed that distance runners were 10 times more likely to experience heat stroke than serious cardiac problems. All the fatal or life-threatening events were from heat stroke. The study is in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. [Lior Yankelson et al, Life-Threatening Events During Endurance Sports: Is Heat Stroke More Prevalent Than Arrhythmic Death?]

The researchers advise runners to take 10 to 14 days to adjust to the climate before tackling a serious run in a hot region. And they say to sit out the run if you’ve been sick recently.

Perhaps one day runners will swallow internal temperature sensors that reliably record core body temperature. But for now runners should simply do their best to keep cool.

—Dina Fine Maron

[The above text is a transcript of this podcast.]

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American