Here’s how this 87-year-old triathlete keeps her heart strong : NPR

JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:

With the Winter Olympics starting later this week, the attention on world-class athletes might inspire some people to get off the couch and get moving. In case you need more encouragement, here’s another potential motivator. NPR’s Allison Aubrey tells the story of an 87-year-old triathlete in Cleveland who overcame numerous health challenges to stay in the game.

ALLISON AUBREY, BYLINE: If you think you’re too slow or too out of shape to accomplish any physical feat, take it from Luise Easton: You may be capable of more than you think. She participates in triathlons.

LUISE EASTON: When I was 80, I won in Denmark. And then I went to Spain last summer and I won there.

AUBREY: She says it’s easier to finish first when there isn’t too much competition in your age category. But it’s always a pleasure to see that medal hanging around your neck during the medal ceremony.

EASTON: You always get on the podium. And everyone applauds and says great. Yeah, it feels good (laughs).

AUBREY: Easton has always been active. But five years ago, she feared her athletic days were behind her. She felt short of breath during workouts and went to see a sports doctor at the Cleveland Clinic.

EASTON: They did all kinds of tests and found out that my heart wasn’t as strong as it’s supposed to be.

AUBREY: Doctors measured their ejection fraction, which is an estimate of how much blood a person’s heart pumps with each heartbeat. Dr. Tamanna Singh, a sports cardiologist who Easton consulted, explains that a low ejection fraction is a sign that the heart is not pumping efficiently enough to meet the body’s oxygen needs.

TAMANNA SINGH: We need to get oxygen to every part of our body that needs it, which is everything, you know, from our skin to our vital organs. The heart is therefore responsible for your circulation.

AUBREY: Dr. Singh and his team prescribed Easton medications that can help, including a beta blocker, and helped her adjust her workouts.

SINGH: Incorporating more recovery, changing things in terms of exercise intensity and volume with your trainer. I think all of those things helped her keep running.

AUBREY: The good news is that up to 80% of heart disease can be prevented or treated with lifestyle changes and medications. But a new survey from the Cleveland Clinic finds that most people don’t know they’re at risk for heart disease, even those with high blood pressure. Integrative medicine expert Dr. Victoria Maizes says it’s very important to focus on preventive care.

VICTORIA CORN: We have this intrinsic recovery system that helps us recover from a wide range of conditions.

AUBREY: Maizes is the author of “Heal Faster.” She says there are many approaches to helping people feel better, including medications combined with lifestyle changes including healthy eating, exercise and stress management. She says Easton’s story illustrates what’s possible.

CORN: This is a wonderful and inspiring story. And it’s really a reminder of our innate ability to recover and do things we’re passionate about.

AUBREY: Luise Easton says her advice is to put aside your doubts and be realistic, especially when it’s time to adjust what’s possible.

EASTON: I’m 87 now, so everything I do is a little more difficult. Now, instead of running, I walk. But there is no rule against walking. I’m still out there and I can still do it.

AUBREY: She may be slower, but it’s clear she’s still in the race.

Allison Aubrey, NPR News.

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