Why doesn't the heart get tired?

Kind of inspired by the 'how do we get fitter' thread, I've often wondered how come the heart doesn't seem to get tired.

Or maybe it does?

But let's say we lead a sedentary lifestyle. The heart never has to work too hard. (Well actually it does. It works very hard all the time. But I mean relatively speaking).

But then we start doing cardio work. Our superficial muscles will fatigue quote quickly. They may even end up quite sore. The next day they might feel barely able to move. Yet during the exercise that fatigued the superficial muscles, the heart was working a lot harder than usual. In fact it continues to work a lot harder than usual for some hours after the exercise stopped, as it still has to supply the increased blood flow to deal with the fatigued superficial muscles.

OK. I know the heart can fatigue and in extreme cases you get a heart attack. But generally speaking, major cardiac events aside, how come the heart doesn't ever seem to get DOMS, or how come you never seem to walk up one morning with your heart barely able to beat because it's tired?

[Hidden]

Ok. It seems it does. I Googled it and find this interesting if not slightly terrifying article.

fitness.mercola.com/sites/f...

[DawnRun in reply to Hidden]

There's a guy in Ireland just completed 24 marathons in 24 days , I wonder if he has done damage to his heart. Hard to know the damage is done until it's too late.

[godzed in reply to DawnRun]

According to the article that MrDecrepit posted he will certainly have scarred his heart. Very relieved to read that extreme exercise can be bad for your heart - will just stick to 5k!

[Rignold in reply to godzed]

Speaking as someone who loves extreme exercise and has extensive scarring of the heart that smacks slightly of schadenfreude.

[godzed in reply to Rignold]

You're absolutely right! Sorry 😐

[ju-ju- Graduate in reply to Rignold]

I had to look that word up, and

[godzed in reply to ju-ju-]

My family has a history of heart disease. My dad had a heart attack at 44 years of age followed by quadruple bypass. After the HA he decided to walk - lots- & it changed his life. He died from something completely unrelated in the end. The heart is pretty resilient. I'm on beta blockers & im a bit wary but we just have to make the best of what we've got. Hopefully running will help which is why I started this programme.❤️🤞😃

[Hidden in reply to godzed]

I'm not sure I'm 100% convinced that the article is right.

Both my grandads lived into their 90s, and they both fought in ww2. I'm pretty sure army training then was at least as intensive as now, but with a much lesser understanding of the science behind exercise.

[godzed in reply to Hidden]

Really interesting article. Glad I have no intention of running marathons. Just off to buy some ubiquinol!! 😃

[ju-ju- Graduate]

I've always seen the heart as the most important muscle and that's why we gradually pick up the cardio for it to grow and improve which also keeps it healthy, but yes it needs rest too. My resting HR is the lowest it's ever been which I take as healthy, and equally stress, fags, bad fats and bad lifestyle all have a far worse impact than fitness?

[ju-ju- Graduate]

nhs.uk/Livewell/Healthyhear...

This makes sense 😎

[Rignold]

Yeah. it does. Big time.

[Irish-John Graduate]

Hmm....just thinking...my heart never hurt as much over running as it has over a few lost ladies in my past.

Stress kills, emotions destroy - but running??? A far better way to go if it does get you in the end even

[foreverendeavour]

What a brilliant point! Looking forward to hearing opinions!