If I were 58 and agreed to a boxing match with someone half my age, it would cause a lot of panic. My daughters would burst into tears, my partner would be strong-mouthed, and my students would finally confirm that I had lost the plot. However, I am not “Iron Mike” Tyson.
exist July 20The former heavyweight boxing world champion will take to the ring at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, to take on YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. Tyson is 58 years old and Paul is 27 years old.
Let’s see what happens biologically to Iron Mike.
Repeated blows to the body will tire the boxer out, and a shovel hook aimed at the liver may result in a “technical knockout,” but the head is the primary target. Boxers are always looking for the killing blow – and that only happens when you hit the head.
However, it takes multiple powerful blows to the head before the opponent is knocked down – if a knockout occurs at all. Many boxers “fight it out” – in other words, try to fight until the end, which may be 4 to 12 rounds, each lasting 3 minutes. So what are the potential effects of all this head trauma?
The immediate impact is likely to be minimal; the boxer may simply recover. But in some cases, the impact can be devastating: subdural hematoma May happen.In this case, shear forces can cause tearing bridging vein Between the brain and the meninges or blood vessels within the meninges.
Bleeding from these torn veins can cause blood to pool and compress the brain. This can lead to confusion, loss of consciousness, neurological impairment, and in some cases, death.
Older people tend to have reduced brain capacity. This lengthens the bridging veins, making them more susceptible to rupture. Binge drinking is known to accelerate brain shrinkage, and Tyson appeared to be using this as a form of treatment. past risk factors.
I remember one patient, a boxer, who had suffered subdural hematoma and suffered from physical disabilities and severe depression. These are devastating and permanent effects.
Shear forces on the brain can cause damage to neurons (brain cells). Nerve fibers can be torn, which can cause subtle or very noticeable effects.This so-called “Diffuse axonal damage” Accumulated over time, it can lead to premature loss of cognitive function.This is called boxer’s dementia, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy (Thermal expansion coefficient).
Repeated injuries can cause abnormal tau protein to build up in the brain. As a result, brain cells are lost and the brain shrinks. Patients experience changes in behavior, mood, and ability to think.
In some cases, Parkinson’s disease-like conditions may be caused by the loss of neurons in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra. Muhammad Ali Might be bothered by this, but it’s never confirmed.
heart problems
The likelihood of cardiac events such as arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), angina (reduced blood flow to the heart muscle), and myocardial infarction (heart attack) increases in midlife. Staying healthy can prevent cardiovascular disease, and Tyson’s workout regimen will benefit him greatly. However, the temptation to overdo it in the gym is always there.
Extreme sports can leading to cardiac fibrosis (scarring of the heart muscle), which may lead to heart failure over time and sometimes, sudden death.
Coronary atherosclerosis (narrowing of the heart arteries) is common in middle-aged people, even in seemingly healthy people.However, it may result in Sudden death during exercise. Although regular exercise can reduce this risk, A cocaine habit can exacerbate this condition Pretty big – as we all know, Tyson Have used this medicine in the past.
A blow to the chest can also cause trouble. an emotion that comes from the heart is a condition in which the heart muscle is damaged by such a blow. This can lead to irregular heartbeats, reduced ability of the heart muscle to contract, and even death. This is rare, but coronary artery disease can make it worse.
Age is not necessarily a barrier
So far I’ve focused on Iron Mike, but what about his counterpart Jake Paul? He was a much younger man and likely did not have heart disease and brain atrophy, which may have protected him to some extent. However, he has less boxing experience and is a late starter in boxing.
there are many examples Boxers in their 50s and 60s Still performed well and beat the younger competition. If Tyson maintains his speed, strength and ability to outsmart Paul, Tyson may win.
Finally, let’s remember that exercise is good for us at all ages, and there’s good evidence that moderate amounts of boxing are good for us. many health benefits.
(author:Stephen HughesSenior Lecturer in Medicine, Anglia Ruskin University)
(Disclosure statement:Stephen Hughes does not work for, consult, own shares in, or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant relationships beyond his academic appointment)
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