A marathon puts strain on the body—and stresses the heart. What happens to the heart during a marathon? How long does it take for the heart to recover from a marathon? What distinguishes the hearts of competitive athletes from those of amateur athletes? What should amateur athletes keep in mind before running a marathon? What warning signs should be taken seriously during the race? Answers to these and other questions are provided by sports cardiologist Prof. Jürgen Scharhag, medical director of the ÖISM, in a major interview with Der Spiegel.
Excerpt: "The heart attack and heart stress markers after endurance exercise are higher in poorly trained people than in well-prepared people after a marathon. So if I train more, my heart will also be less stressed by a marathon. The heart is then better adapted. You shouldn't just say on a whim: 'Right, in three months I'm going to run a marathon. You have to train specifically for such a competition so that your muscles, tendons, and joints can adapt. Otherwise, you'll overload yourself. This also applies to the heart."
