Can running while sick damage the heart?

I'm going to start of by saying I'm a biologist, not a doctor. This comes from my knowledge of biological systems, not from my limited knowledge of medicine.

I don't think you would have damaged your heart by running through a cold. The cold virus simply doesn't affect your heart under any circumstances I can think of.

There are a few options I can think of however. If when you thought you had a cold/flu, you had pnuemonia, lung damage could have occured. If you did have mono, the virus is still in your body. While its relatively rare, the virus could resurface and cause symptoms again. This usually occurs under times of stress when your immune system is weak and can't keep the virus in check. You mentioned that you think your colds are caused by stress, so this could be related.

Additionally (this is a super simple, not totally accurate, but pretty good metaphor), if you've had alot of illnesses in the past, they could deffinitely still affect you today. Assuming you're viewing letsrun from a PC, you've probably had a computer virus. Your antivirus might've cleaned it, but your computer was never the same again. You've probable had a bunch of viruses that make changes to your computer that you don't even know about, and even though they get taken care of, the effects add up.

A similar thing happens to your body. Most infections you don't even realize you have. Viruses can stay in your body forever without any noticable symptoms. They can cause damage that only becomes apparent under certain circumstances. Viruses can cause anything from colds, to fatigue, to cancer.

Some years ago, one of the finest veteran runners in our country (Britain) who ran 27 minutes for 5 miles aged 60, was in bed, sick with flu, when he was prevailed upon to run for his club team in the national vets cross-country championships.

He foolishly did so, predictably ran out of his skin, faster than anyone in his team - but later, never got back to his previous form and - don’t want to worry you! - dropped dead with a heart attack on a training run about a year later.

The same thing happened to Britain's finest ever endurance athlete, the cyclist Beryl Burton. Her record of achievements make Paula Radcliffe look lazy.

Beryl died from myocarditis, inflamation of the heart which can happen to the healthiest and fittest people when they exercise with a viral infection. The virus attacks the heart and it becomes dangerously enlarged and inneficient. Berly also collapsed and died whilst training. She was in her ealy sixties, but the condition kills young people too.

So if you have a flu like virus, stay in bed.

Isn't it called viral myopathy? It is well known that hard exercise while ill can permanently damage the heart and even require a transplant.

I think if you're feeling that ill hard exercise would have no benefit and delay your recovery anyway.

once again, a lot of non-doctors speculating and giving advice. please, if you don't know, don't mislead someone like this.

definitely, your common viruses (that cause the common cold or the common "intestinal flu" (btw...that is a misnomer, but that is not important here) can cause myocarditis (inflammation of the heart) and cardiomyopathy. this damage can be permanent and catastrophic, though it is rare. however, viruses are the most common causes of myocarditis.

adenovirus (most common cause of common cold) and ebstein-barr virus (mononucleosis) are the most common causes viral myocarditis and cardiomyopathy. coxsackie virus is an enterovirus which usually causes symptoms like fever, malaise, and GI distress (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping) is also a common cause of myocarditis. there are many others...

the best advice is to avoid running during the ACUTE phase of a viral illness. when you are in recovery, and the virus has been neutralized by the body, it is probably okay.

none of the above advice can take the place of the advice of a doctor who has seen and examined you. please, see a doctor for more specific and complete advice. given the history you comment on, you should probably see a doctor to make sure you are okay.

ooooo a non-doctor giving advice. Thanks for the AMA party line. God forbid anyone other than a doctor would dare think they understand the human body. Please stop encroaching on their earning potential people.

Quite.

I wish I had a quid for every poor sod that’s died as a result of doctor’s incompetence - I'd be a very rich man.

Three of them misdiagnosed my heart virus, one actually said I had a stomach ulcer!

Luckily I ignored their opinions - sought out an eminent cardiologist who finally discovered my problem, telling me my heart wouldn’t have lasted another week - it was only because it was so strong from my running activities that it hadn’t given out already.

Quacks.

Dr Shaggy, I told you before, don't be such an arrogant prick.

why would anyone EVER train while sick or injured?

your workouts will be uniformly crappy

you will delay your recovery from illness

no way training helps you get better faster--your body needs rest

this applies to elites and professionals as well

I guess the "eminent cardiologist" who saved you wasn't himself a doctor, right? (Must have been on of the amateur, lay-cardiologists!)

Millster, Good grief, and No to 2012

Why is everyone ganging up on Shaggy? He is the only one who gave any remotely informed advice? What positive comments did you guys have to add to this thread?

Shaggy was a good point, I should probably speak to a doctor.

Xlev2 makes a good point about training while sick. Why would you do it? The odd thing is that I can feel quite good in workouts, but afterward things don't feel so good. I can hammer out a solid workout, but then afterward I may feel quite fatigued or have an extremely elevated resting heart rate.

Probably taking time off would be smartest decision, but like most runners, I'm stubborn about missing training.

Rafael Ortiz, a 30-year-old boxer, died recently when his heart failed as the result of flu-induced viral myocarditis. He had the flu, trained through it like the gym warrior he was including running several miles a day, wound up with viral myocarditis and died.

Before anyone speculates, a range of tests and medical reports were done and no steroids or other drugs were found.

According to Dr. Margaret Goodman, who works as a ringside physician, 20 percent of all sudden deaths in young adults are due to myocarditis, which can be caused by hard exercise while suffering from the flu.

It's not something to be taken lightly.

Again when you are sick listen to your body--it is telling you its defenses are down,and you were vulnerable to infection--take time off until you are better, doesnt have to be 100% gone but on its way--you need to use all your body's energy to get over the infection. if you worrry about gaining weight then eat 1/3 less calories per day. if you HAVE to do something to feel good about yourself do some light arm curls, maybe stretch for 30 mins instead of your usual rushed 10 mins. please...

So I shouldn't run even if I just have a regular cold? Damn I've been running through a cold for two weeks now.

cold is supposed to last 5-7 days. perhaps its lingering b/c you arent letting your body recover enough. also possible you picked up a 2nd virus.