aren't......( like me) if you are between 40-60, think long and hard about competing in a triathlon or doing more than 1 hr of aerobic exercise ( daily) ......it may end up doing you more harm than good. More is not better. Moderation is the operative word on this subject.
For men competing in triathlons past the age of 40, the grueling slog to the finish line could be their last.
As the average age of competitors in endurance sports rises, a spate of deaths during races or intense workouts highlights the risks of excessive strain on the heart through vigorous exercise in middle age. Among the recent casualties: Michael McClintock, senior managing director of Macquarie Group Ltd. (MGQ) and a triathlete, who died at age 55 of cardiac arrest earlier this month after training.
The 40-to-60-year age bracket, often referred to as middle aged men in Lycra, or Mamils, now holds 32 percent of the membership in USA Triathlon, the sport’s official governing body in the U.S. More fitness conscious than previous generations, their numbers in competitive races are swelling, along with their risk of cardiac arrest. Triathlons, the most robust of endurance races requiring swimming, biking and running, are also believed to be the most risky.
“People need to understand that they’re not necessarily gaining more health by doing more exercise,” said David Prior, a cardiologist and associate professor of medicine at the University of Melbourne. “The attributes to push through the barriers and push through the pain are common in competitive sport, but that’s also dangerous when it comes to ignoring warning signs.”
While benefits of exercise are well-known, researchers now suspect that there may be a point at which exertion becomes dangerous, especially for middle aged men who, because of gender and changes that accompany aging, are more susceptible to cardiac arrest caused by vigorous exercise.
Cardiac Arrest
Cardiac arrest, which occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating, can be caused by almost any heart condition, including abnormal heart rhythm, thickening heart muscle and arteries -- changes that can occur silently as healthy people age. The risk of sudden cardiac arrest, which can be brought on with physical stress, increases with age, and men are two to three times more likely to suffer from it than women, according to the National Institutes of Health.
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For men competing in triathlons past the age of 40, the grueling slog to the finish line could be their last.
As the average age of competitors in endurance sports rises, a spate of deaths during races or intense workouts highlights the risks of excessive strain on the heart through vigorous exercise in middle age. Among the recent casualties: Michael McClintock, senior managing director of Macquarie Group Ltd. (MGQ) and a triathlete, who died at age 55 of cardiac arrest earlier this month after training.
The 40-to-60-year age bracket, often referred to as middle aged men in Lycra, or Mamils, now holds 32 percent of the membership in USA Triathlon, the sport’s official governing body in the U.S. More fitness conscious than previous generations, their numbers in competitive races are swelling, along with their risk of cardiac arrest. Triathlons, the most robust of endurance races requiring swimming, biking and running, are also believed to be the most risky.
“People need to understand that they’re not necessarily gaining more health by doing more exercise,” said David Prior, a cardiologist and associate professor of medicine at the University of Melbourne. “The attributes to push through the barriers and push through the pain are common in competitive sport, but that’s also dangerous when it comes to ignoring warning signs.”
While benefits of exercise are well-known, researchers now suspect that there may be a point at which exertion becomes dangerous, especially for middle aged men who, because of gender and changes that accompany aging, are more susceptible to cardiac arrest caused by vigorous exercise.
Cardiac Arrest
Cardiac arrest, which occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating, can be caused by almost any heart condition, including abnormal heart rhythm, thickening heart muscle and arteries -- changes that can occur silently as healthy people age. The risk of sudden cardiac arrest, which can be brought on with physical stress, increases with age, and men are two to three times more likely to suffer from it than women, according to the National Institutes of Health.
continued
