ParagSushma

A tragic reminder that being a runner does not make one immune to heart disease. Sanjay Shamrao Kadam, a 65-year-old avid runner developed chest pain near the finish of the Satara Hill Half Marathon and later collapsed with cardiac arrest. He was resuscitated, taken to hospital, where angiography reportedly showed a major coronary artery blockage and angioplasty was performed. Sadly, he later suffered a massive heart attack and died. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and acquaintances🙏 What can runners learn from this tragedy? 🔸Heart attacks during long-distance races are rare, but they do occur. 🔴In middle-aged and older runners, the commonest cause of exercise-related cardiac arrest/death is often previously undiagnosed coronary artery disease (CAD). Before a half or full marathon: ✅ Know your BP, diabetes and cholesterol status ✅Assess cardiovascular risk, especially after age 40–45 ✅Don't ignore a strong family history of premature heart disease ✅Discuss symptoms or significant risk factors with a doctor ✅Higher-risk individuals may need further evaluation, not necessarily everyone ✅Train gradually and systematically; don't suddenly attempt a marathon. Routine ECG, TMT or CT coronary angiography for every runner is not the answer. Screening should be risk-based. ▶️During the race, STOP and seek help if you develop: 🔸Chest pressure/pain 🔸Unusual breathlessness 🔸Dizziness or near-fainting 🔸Palpitations with weakness or light-headedness 🔸Sudden, unexplained extreme fatigue ▶️Never try to “push through” chest pain to reach the finish line. ▶️Also respect the conditions: heat, dehydration, hills and excessive exertion increase physiological stress. ▶️Adjust your pace or skip the race if necessary. Finally, let's keep this tragedy in perspective. 🟢Long-distance running is generally safe and healthy for the vast majority of appropriately trained people. ▶️Sudden cardiac death during marathons is an exceedingly rare event, while regular physical activity substantially reduces long-term cardiovascular risk. 🔸The message is NOT: “Don't run.” ✅The message is: Train well; know your heart-health risks; listen to your body and never ignore warning symptoms. ▶️Running protects the heart, but it cannot guarantee that an underlying heart disease does not exist. Dr Sudhir Kumar @hyderabaddoctor (Source: @TOIPune)