US researchers warn that excessive exercise may be at risk of cardiovascular disease after discovering that one in 10 marathon athletes has one cardiovascular, according to the Telegraph.
According to researchers, long-distance marathoners and cyclists run the risk of long-term cardiovascular damage and the higher risk may be a heart attack after two years of joining the race.
In addition to affecting the heart muscle, athletes may also experience changes in heart rate, indicating heart rhythm disorders and death if left untreated.
Endurance exercise sports are associated with an five-fold increased risk of atrial fibrillation, a disease requiring careful treatment and death.
Exercise 30-60 minutes a day is ideal
Researcher James H. O'Keefe, Ph.D. of Saint Luke's Hospital in Kansas City (USA), said: 'Exercise is the most essential thing in everyday life. However, this finding indicates that modest exercise offers many health benefits and excessive exercise is not really beneficial for cardiovascular health. We should only maintain exercise for 30-60 minutes every day. '
Dr O'Keefe added that daily physical activity during a reasonable period of time can help prevent and treat many diseases effectively including coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, heart failure and obesity.
The study was published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings
