How much exercise is too much?

[microrobert]

How much exercise is too much?

Growing evidence shows that overdoing endurance training may damage your heart and shorten life expectancy. But don’t hang up your running shoes and wetsuits just yet.

Dr. Paul Thompson has run 29 Boston Marathons over the past four decades — he finished 16th in 1976 — but has also spent a good part of his career as a cardiologist researching the detrimental effects that high-endurance training has on the heart.

Some of his recently published papers reviewing the latest research suggest that regular marathon running increases the risks of an abnormal heartbeat, damage to heart tissue, and hardening of the arteries. Other research suggests that those who train hard every day don’t live as long as those who run at a more moderate pace a few days a week.

In a February study, Danish researchers followed nearly 1,900 runners for three decades and found that those who jogged slowly for up to 2½ hours a week lived about six years longer on average than those who ran longer and faster. Swedish researchers reported in June that elite cross-country skiers who had the fastest times in a 56-mile ski marathon or those who competed in the greatest number of those marathons were also 30 percent more likely than their fellow competitors to be hospitalized for an irregular heartbeat.

Can too much exercise harm the heart and shorten your life? - Health & wellness - The Boston Globe

[Mazik]

Sometimes you hear about 20-30 year old elite athletes that just collapses, because their heart just stop beating. Too much isn't healthy.

Some days ago I heard about a 22 year old Swedish elite cross-country skier that collapsed when he was out shopping with his gf (happened some years ago).

[Corvus]

Too much is never good. A marathon for example is just damaging joints and ligaments and can also harm the heart as well as kidneys.
Running about 60 km per week is more than sufficent

[CrystalMaiden]

Until you look like this, it's never too much you wimp.

[armenianbodyhair]

Sometimes you hear about 20-30 year old elite athletes that just collapses, because their heart just stop beating. Too much isn't healthy.

Some days ago I heard about a 22 year old Swedish elite cross-country skier that collapsed when he was out shopping with his gf (happened some years ago).

Something like this happened to me but it was because my heart was hitting the side wall. I know there is also a chance for people with irregular heartbeats to die in their sleep. I think most of the times it's an actual condition though.

[Swearengen]

if your nipples start to bleed, your'e probably over doing it.

[selfmademob]

I have seen quite a few runners get stress fractures because of over exerting themselves.