Runner's high explained

The runner's high is a transient state of euphoria coupled with lessened feelings of anxiety and a higher pain threshold, which can come either from continuous moderate physical exertion over time or from short bursts of high-intensity exercise. The exact prevalence is unknown, but it seems to be a relatively rare phenomenon that not every athlete experiences.[1] The name comes from distance running, and it is alternatively called "rower's high" in rowing.[2] [3] [4] [5]

Mechanism of action

Current medical reviews indicate that several endogenous euphoriants are responsible for producing exercise-related pleasurable feelings, specifically phenethylamine (an endogenous psychostimulant), (an endogenous opioid), and anandamide (an endogenous cannabinoid).[6] [7] [8] [9] [10] However, more recent studies suggest that endorphins have a limited role in the feelings of euphoria specifically related to the runner's high due to their inability to cross the blood-brain barrier, placing more importance in the endocannabinoids instead, which can cross this barrier.[11] [12]

Notes and References

  1. News: Nogrady . Bianca . Chasing the runner's high: the elusive buzz scientists are still figuring out . 12 April 2024 . The Guardian . 8 April 2023.
  2. Cunha GS, Ribeiro JL, Oliveira AR . June 2008 . [Levels of beta-endorphin in response to exercise and overtraining] . Arq Bras Endocrinol Metabol . pt . 52 . 4 . 589–598 . 10.1590/S0004-27302008000400004 . 18604371 . free. 10183/40053 . free .
  3. Boecker H, Sprenger T, Spilker ME, Henriksen G, Koppenhoefer M, Wagner KJ, Valet M, Berthele A, Tolle TR . 2008 . The runner's high: opioidergic mechanisms in the human brain . Cereb. Cortex . 18 . 11 . 2523–2531 . 10.1093/cercor/bhn013 . 18296435 . The runner's high describes an euphoric state resulting from long-distance running. . free.
  4. Raichlen DA, Foster AD, Gerdeman GL, Seillier A, Giuffrida A . Wired to run: exercise-induced endocannabinoid signaling in humans and cursorial mammals with implications for the 'runner's high' . J. Exp. Biol. . 215 . Pt 8 . 1331–1336 . 2012 . 22442371 . 10.1242/jeb.063677 . 5129200. free .
  5. Cohen EE, Ejsmond-Frey R, Knight N, Dunbar RI . Rowers' high: behavioural synchrony is correlated with elevated pain thresholds . Biol. Lett. . 6 . 1 . 106–108 . 2010 . 19755532 . 2817271 . 10.1098/rsbl.2009.0670 .
  6. Szabo A, Billett E, Turner J . Phenylethylamine, a possible link to the antidepressant effects of exercise? . Br J Sports Med . 35 . 5 . 342–343 . 2001 . 11579070 . 1724404 . 10.1136/bjsm.35.5.342.
  7. Lindemann L, Hoener MC . A renaissance in trace amines inspired by a novel GPCR family . Trends Pharmacol. Sci. . 26 . 5 . 274–281 . 2005 . 15860375 . 10.1016/j.tips.2005.03.007.
  8. Berry MD . The potential of trace amines and their receptors for treating neurological and psychiatric diseases . Rev Recent Clin Trials . 2 . 1 . 3–19 . 2007 . 18473983 . 10.2174/157488707779318107. 10.1.1.329.563 .
  9. Dinas PC, Koutedakis Y, Flouris AD . Effects of exercise and physical activity on depression . Ir J Med Sci . 180 . 2 . 319–325 . 2011 . 21076975 . 10.1007/s11845-010-0633-9 . 40951545.
  10. Tantimonaco M, Ceci R, Sabatini S, Catani MV, Rossi A, Gasperi V, Maccarrone M . Physical activity and the endocannabinoid system: an overview . Cell. Mol. Life Sci. . 71 . 14 . 2681–2698 . 2014 . 24526057 . 10.1007/s00018-014-1575-6 . 14531019. 11113821 .
  11. Fuss . Johannes . Steinle . Jörg . Bindila . Laura . Auer . Matthias K. . Kirchherr . Hartmut . Lutz . Beat . Gass . Peter . A runner's high depends on cannabinoid receptors in mice . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . 20 October 2015 . 112 . 42 . 13105–13108 . 10.1073/pnas.1514996112 . free . 26438875 . 4620874 . 2015PNAS..11213105F .
  12. Desai . Shreya . Borg . Breanna . Cuttler . Carrie . Crombie . Kevin M. . Rabinak . Christine A. . Hill . Matthew N. . Marusak . Hilary A. . A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Effects of Exercise on the Endocannabinoid System . Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research . 1 August 2022 . 7 . 4 . 388–408 . 10.1089/can.2021.0113 . 34870469 . en . 2578-5125. 9418357 .

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