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Marathoner's Heart Attack: Agent Orange Link?
2 Jan
Summary
- Olympian runner Jeff Galloway survived heart failure after his heart stopped.
- Galloway believes Agent Orange exposure may be a cause of his heart issues.
- He aims to complete a marathon in eight consecutive decades of life.
Eighty-year-old Olympic distance runner Jeff Galloway, a pioneer of the run-walk-run method, recently faced a life-threatening health crisis. In 2021, he experienced a heart attack leading to heart failure, with his heart stopping for four and a half minutes. Galloway and his doctors theorize that his past exposure to Agent Orange, a chemical used during the Vietnam War, might be linked to his coronary artery disease, as he served in the Navy and was exposed to the defoliant.
Despite these challenges and a subsequent broken kneecap, Galloway remains committed to his passion for running. He aims to complete a marathon, which would make him the first person to achieve this in eight consecutive decades. This quest is a personal testament to his own widely promoted philosophy that consistent training and strategic walk breaks enable anyone to run marathons.
Galloway's journey from elite competitor to accessible running advocate highlights his enduring spirit. His recovery involved relearning to jog, starting with just three-second intervals. He draws motivation from past comebacks from injuries and illnesses, proving that resilience and a step-by-step approach can overcome significant obstacles.
