Extreme exercise, such as running more than 35 miles a week or biking more than 150 kilometers a week, could increase levels of coronary artery calcium–a bad thing. The Wall Street Journal reports on a recent study conducted by British physicians that looked at the cardiac health of 169 serious endurance athletes. Forty-one men and 16 women in the group ran more than 35 miles or cycled more than 150 kilometers a week. The researchers found that, compared with the control group, athletes who ran fewer than 35 miles a week or cycled fewer than 150 kilometers a week had lower levels of coronary artery calcium. But athletes who ran or cycled beyond that threshold had higher levels of coronary artery calcium than did the control group. Wait, there’s more. Intensity of exercise also appeared to influence coronary artery calcium. The Journal reports that, compared with the control group, there were significantly lower levels of coronary calcium in the slowest men and women. In women, those levels rose as speed increased, though not to the levels of the relatively sedentary control group. The fastest men, however, had significantly higher levels of coronary calcium than did men in the control group.
Health, fitness and lifestyle tips for people over 50 who still like to play hard
Monday, April 21, 2025
Vindicates one of two blogs I have written on the subject – a subject near and dear to my heart (no pun intended) as a national class cyclist and runner:
http://sandyscott.growingbolder.com/is-it-possible-to-exercise-too-much/
Hmmm, so if I’m running 35 miles and riding about 100 miles weekly, does that mean I’m totally screwed?
Exercise die. Sit on couch die. Exercise a little, maybe get nothing out of it. I guess we are all going to die. Drink less milk?