JAKARTA - The popularity of running sports continues to increase in recent years. From casual running on weekends to participating in various 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon events, more and more people are making this sport a part of a healthy lifestyle.
However, behind the benefits for body fitness and heart health, running also has risks that need to be understood, especially for those who are just starting or have a history of certain diseases.
One of the conditions that often becomes the focus of attention in various running events is the case of collapse to sudden cardiac arrest.
General Practitioner and Health Content Creator, dr. Ikhsanuddin Qoth'i, explained that basically every physical activity has health risks, including running.
"All sports or physical activity must have risks. For sports such as running, one of the most dangerous and frequent is a disorder of the heart that can cause a person to collapse while exercising," he said in a press conference at the BrookFarm Almond Run 2026 in Jakarta, June 18.
However, this risk does not mean that a person has to avoid exercise. In fact, according to Dr. Ikhsanuddin, understanding one's own health condition is an important first step before deciding to follow high-intensity physical activity.
He emphasized that a person needs to know the history of the disease, especially if they have conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or heart rhythm disorders.
"If you participate in sports, especially physical activities with high loads or outside of normal daily activities, we need to be aware of what diseases or disease history we have," he said.
For individuals who have these risk factors, consultation with medical personnel before participating in the running event is highly recommended.
"In the case of collapse, if there is a history of diabetes, hypertension, or heart rhythm disorders, it needs to be consulted with a doctor first. It is best to be evaluated, and if the doctor says no, it is best to follow the doctor's instructions," he added.
The phenomenon of increasing the number of participants in the running competition also makes many people tempted to immediately register without sufficient preparation. In fact, according to dr. Ikhsanuddin, the body needs time to adapt to the burden of higher physical activity.
He gave an example of a beginner participant who wanted to participate in a 5 kilometer running race. Training can start from a short distance that is adjusted to the body's ability.
"Start slowly, for example 100 to 300 meters first, then slowly increase the intensity," said Dr. Ikhsanuddin.
According to him, recognizing the limits of the body's ability is an important key to preventing injuries and collapse incidents during exercise.
"Basically, if we know that we have a history of risky diseases, we need to be confident in our own body strength. After that, it only starts gradually," he explained.
Nutrition intake needs to be considered.In addition to gradual physical exercise, diet also plays a major role in preparing the body for regular sports activities.
According to Dr. Ikhsanuddin, healthy lifestyle changes do not have to be done in an extreme way. Simple steps from daily eating habits can actually be an effective start.
"If you are trying to change a healthy lifestyle, change it first from small things, namely eating habits. For example, eating Padang rice, the broth should not be too much, then increase the vegetables," he said.
The importance of nutrition is also in line with the growing trend of active lifestyles. Director of Marketing & Trading PT Sukanda Djaya (Diamond Cold Storage), dr. Maria Melisa, said that the increasing public interest in sports also encourages the need for energy-supportive and body-restorative intake.
He explained that plant-based nutrient intake such as almonds can be one of the food ingredients that are widely chosen by people who lead an active lifestyle because of their nutritional content.
"Almonds are a natural source of vitamin E and antioxidants that help protect the body's cells from oxidative stress, and contain magnesium which plays a role in muscle function and energy metabolism," he said.
According to him, the right nutritional needs can help maintain the balance between physical activity and overall body health.
"Healthy lifestyle is not about how fast someone runs, but how the body is prepared to stay healthy in the long term," concluded Dr. Maria.
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