But in some cases, extreme exercise can damage the heart. Research is showing that a small percentage of middle-aged and older athletes who compete in endurance events over many years may be at higher risk for developing atrial fibrillation – an irregular heartbeat – and other heart problems.
Common signs of cardiac problems during exercise
A person may feel constant fatigue, tiredness, chest discomfort, heaviness, or profuse sweating during or after exercise. These could be indicators of a likely heart attack and should not be ignored.
But the toll is more than just emotional: Those long hours may also be harmful for your heart. People who work long hours—defined as working more than 10 hours for at least fifty days of the year—have a 29% greater risk of stroke, according to a study published in June 2019 in Stroke.
Frequent, sustained exercise in susceptible individuals can lead to persistent right ventricular overload and adverse remodelling. In previously well athletes, this accumulative damage can predispose to right-sided-heart failure, arrhythmia, and sudden death.
Chest pain. Fainting or severe weakness. Rapid or irregular heartbeat with shortness of breath, chest pain or fainting. Sudden, severe shortness of breath and coughing up white or pink, foamy mucus.
“During the first stage of congestive heart failure, you won't experience any symptoms, even during physical activity. You will be classed in stage 1 if you have cardiac disease but this is not causing you any symptoms” explains Dr Hadjiphilippou.
Regular exercise is recommended to improve the cardiovascular risk profile. However, there is growing evidence that extreme volumes and intensity of long-term exertion may increase the risk of acute cardiac events.
Long-term, or chronic, heart failure is often caused by other medical conditions that damage or overwork your heart. Sudden, or acute, heart failure can be caused by an injury or infection that damages your heart, a heart attack, or a blood clot in your lung.
In extreme cases, continual stress on the heart can result in sudden death. Athlete's heart is a condition marked by increased cardiac mass — to put it simply, an enlarged heart. It's most common in those who regularly do more than one hour of high-intensity exercise a day.
The heart muscle can be overwhelmed by a massive amount of adrenaline that is suddenly produced in response to stress. Excess adrenaline can cause narrowing of the small arteries that supply the heart with blood, causing a temporary decrease in blood flow to the heart.
Elefteriades, M.D., professor of surgery, and colleagues have identified 31 individuals who experienced an internal aortic tearing, or “dissection,” following heavy lifting. Most were younger than age 50, in good health, and had no prior history of cardiac disease. A third of these individuals died.
It's important to avoid exercise that involves heavy weight-lifting, or holding your breath. Don't do any exercises that use your whole body as a weight, such as press-ups or planks. And be careful if you're getting in the pool. “You can work a lot harder when you're swimming than you realise,” says Ms Eriksen.
It is estimated that for every 10 years of regular endurance exercise (defined in one large study as 30 minutes and often more of exercise, three or more times per week), the risk of atrial fibrillation increases by about 16%, and the risk of atrial flutter increases by 42%.
How can someone strengthen their heart muscle? “A good diet, exercise and controlling your blood pressure and cholesterol all help promote a strong heart and prevent heart disease. For people who already have a weak heart, low sodium intake, proper exercise and compliance with medications can all prevent more problems.
Fast or Uneven Heartbeat (Palpitations)
If your heart can't pump blood as well, it may beat faster to try to keep up. You may feel your heart racing or throbbing. A fast or uneven heartbeat can also be a sign of an arrhythmia. This is a problem with your heart rate or rhythm.
Overactive Bladder is a Distress Symptom in Heart Failure.
Try to limit sugary drinks such as soft drink, cordial, fruit drinks, sports drinks and energy drinks. The less alcohol you drink the lower your risk of harm from alcohol.
“The current study shows no increased risk of mortality in high-volume exercisers who have coronary artery calcium. Certainly, these high-volume exercisers should review their cardiovascular disease risk with their primary care doctor or cardiologists and the study results provide helpful clinical guidance.”
Strenuous physical activity can sometimes cause stomach acid to flow up into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation in your chest. If the pain you're experiencing feels sharp, localized, or worsens with movement, it's more likely to be a musculoskeletal issue instead of a problem with the cardiovascular system.
Left untreated, it can be life-threatening. While no one can predict exactly how heart failure will affect someone's life or how it may shorten a life, in general, more than half of all people diagnosed with congestive heart failure will survive for five years. About 35% will survive for 10 years.