Are Runners at a Higher Risk of Undetected Heart Issues?

The warning signs are more subtle with otherwise healthy people

I worry about our healthcare system. You go in for your yearly checkup and the doctor says, “Do you feel okay?”

“Yes.”

Then he knocks on your stomach twice and shows you the door. “I’m sure you’re fine, see you next year.”

Yearly checkups are easy money.

The problem is that not everybody makes it to next year.

In the last ten years, two of my runner friends have suffered major heart issues. One of them survived only because he was put into a medically induced coma for a few weeks. The other, tragically, passed away.

These were men in their late 40s who showed no outward signs of any problems.

A week ago I was out skiing with my kids and I felt a tightness in my chest like I’ve never experienced. I’ve been running, skiing, and cycling for 30 years. I have asthma, but I have done races in every temperature and weather condition you can think of. I know the difference between asthma tightness and something else.

This was something else.

Although I exercise all the time, I have the same problems as anyone. I could stand to lose 20 pounds, my cholesterol is a little high, my blood pressure is a little high, but there aren’t any flashing red lights.

The doctor looks at my numbers and says, “You should try to eat a handful of nuts every day.”

The problem is that that most Americans are dangerously obese. Doctors are intelligent people, but when you see the same thing day after day, week after week, you start to get into a rut.

When somebody who comes in who could stand to lose a few pounds but is otherwise healthy, doctors might not give the case the attention it deserves. Perhaps the signs that there is something seriously wrong are there but very, very subtle. Likely as not, those signs are going to slip right by your doctor.

I’ve seen it happen twice. Both of my friends who suffered major heart issues went in every year for their regular physical. Every year the issue that would eventually lay them…

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