Too much exercise: Bad for the heart

A study recently published in the European Heart Journal finds that there is such a thing as too much exercise.

High level athletes who are involved in endurance sports may be pushing their bodies hard enough to damage their hearts.

These athletes engage in years of heavy duty exercise which may weaken the heart muscle, leading to a rare, but deadly disease, ventricular arrhythmia, which causes the heart to beat erratically.

In a sense, there may be a limit to how much exercise a heart can tolerate before being damaged.

High levels of prolonged physical stress can damage the right ventricle of the heart, leading to heart disturbances, especially in young male athletes.

While ventricular arrhythmia is rare, all athletes should be aware of its warning signs, which include sudden shortness of breath while exercising or brief blackouts.

This type of heart damage is likely irreversible. When it occurs, high level athletes may need to give up their competitive sports to reduce stress on the heart.

While too much exercise can be too much, some exercise is still recommended. If you already exercise and want to make it more interesting, check out this program. It's the same ones Hollywood celebrities use to stay motivated: