Marathon Warning: "Stop Before Your Brain Cooks"

As marathon events continue to be held across city centers, a doctor has issued a warning that pushing too hard while running can lead to heatstroke.

Emergency medicine professor and author Namgung In shared running-related knowledge that requires caution during an appearance on the YouTube channel "Thuldoc."

Regarding aerobic exercise, Professor Namgung explained, "Running is a representative exercise great for improving various organ functions, including cardiopulmonary and musculoskeletal systems. Humans are the only creatures on Earth capable of long-distance running."

However, addressing the recent series of marathon-related incidents ranging from minor accidents to fatalities, he also noted the risks involved.

Drawing from his own experience, Namgung cited marathon events as one of the top generators of emergency room patients.

"There is almost never a time when patients do not occur," he said, adding, "It feels like about 1% of participants collapse," before raising the issue of participants overdoing it.

He pointed out that safety accidents continue to happen because people push themselves too hard to improve their records.

Running too hard can result in heatstroke. "By definition, heatstroke is when the brain cooks, and it can cause permanent damage or actually threaten life," he warned, urging special caution.

Regarding recent deaths at marathon events, he noted that cases resulting in loss of life are rare, but added that "any intense exercise puts a strain on the body, and it is presumed that heart or blood vessel problems develop in that state." As a doctor responsible for safety, he urged, "You must rest, run slowly, drink water, and run."

Reported by Son Hyeong-an | Video by Lee Eui-seon | Graphics by Lee Su-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.