William Cornwell, a sports cardiologist at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, said frequent, excessive cardio exercise can trigger the development of “athletic heart syndrome,” which is characterized by an increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation and stroke. In this respect reports Live Science broadcast.
The doctor explained that if you exercise too much, the heart can change its size and shape, which in turn can change the function of the organ. To understand how exercise affects the heart, it is important to consider the type of exercise. Cornwell divides these into two broad categories: dynamic and static.
Dynamic exercises, such as running, skiing or playing football, require the heart to pump greater amounts of blood than is supplied to the body at rest. Static exercises (weightlifting, gymnastics, rock climbing) involve the use of skeletal muscles to push or pull a load of a certain weight. Some activities, such as rowing or cycling, are combination types.
The doctor said that intense physical exercise (especially dynamic exercise) lasting more than an hour a day can lead to the development of “athletic heart syndrome”. This can occur as a result of the heart expanding in size due to the need to pump more blood, for example during extreme running.
This increased stress on the organ can cause its walls to thicken and cause atrial fibrillation, or atrial fibrillation typically seen in older people with high blood pressure or heart failure. It is stated that this heart rhythm disorder is also associated with an increased risk of stroke.
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