—”One thing that happens to people who compete in iron man is that their hearts get a lot bigger. “
There are enlarged hearts and athlete’s heart, they are not the same. But possible to have both.
I have a friend that is a near-elite ultra runner, completed the UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc) a few times, and many US ultras. I hear a lot about the sport.
A long and interesting article on the topic:
Cycling to extremes: Heart health and endurance sports
https://www.velonews.com/cycling-to-extremes-heart-health-and-endurance-sports/
Still, there is no arguing that physical activity is an effective, efficient, and virtually incomparable way to care for your heart, fight cardiovascular disease, and prolong your life. For every journal article that says endurance athletics is hurting their heart, there is one that says the opposite. Or maybe two.
I don’t disagree that regular exercise is very healthy and needed by the body.
The exercise requirements and exercise limits for the young and old are different.
I can’t say that I understand the heart issues well—except that I was told about the downside to iron man by a heart surgeon for atrial fibrillation who said he saw aging iron men in their 50’s in his office regularly for ablations that are designed with some success to stop atrial fibrillation.
I don’t disagree that regular exercise is very healthy and needed by the body.
The exercise requirements and exercise limits for the young and old are different.
I can’t say that I understand the heart issues well—except that I was told about the downside to iron man by a heart surgeon for atrial fibrillation who said he saw aging iron men in their 50’s in his office regularly for ablations that are designed with some success to stop atrial fibrillation.