Table of contents:
- Not everyone is suitable for sports
- Excessive exercise may be a symptom of OCD
- The dangers of excessive exercise for body health
- What are the signs if you are over-exercising?
- Exercise should not be done haphazardly
Exercise is one of the most common ways you hear about living a healthy lifestyle. Want to lose weight and avoid disease? His advice is definitely not far from exercise. But behind the benefits, exercise can turn around to endanger the health of the body if done carelessly or excessively. What are the dangers of overexertion, and what are the signs if you are overdoing it?
Not everyone is suitable for sports
Some people are not allowed to exercise at all as doing so can lead to a risk of physical injury and death. This exercise ban is primarily for people who have aortic stenosis, symptomatic heart failure, aneurysms, and dyspnea.
Meanwhile, some other people with certain conditions are still allowed to exercise, although it must be under the supervision of a doctor, such as the elderly, cancer patients, and people with certain chronic diseases. However, for cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy in less than 24 hours or experiencing pain at the origin of the cancer, it is not recommended to exercise.
Excessive exercise may be a symptom of OCD
Everything that is excessive is certainly not good for the body. Likewise with sports. Excessive exercise can go unnoticed and can start with dissatisfaction with the process and the end result. This dissatisfaction then makes you increase the duration, frequency, and intensity of exercise which is gradually becoming difficult to control. This exercise addiction may appear as a symptom of certain mental disorders, such as OCD.
The dangers of excessive exercise for body health
Excessive exercise that is done with high intensity on a regular basis has the risk of causing you to experience it cardiotoxicity. Cardiotoxicity is damage to the heart muscle due to the release of chemical compounds, which cause the heart to no longer be able to pump blood around your body.
The dangers of excessive exercise can also cause kidney disease. When exercising, all blood flow will be maximized to the parts of the body that need it, such as the muscles of the body. Therefore, blood flow to the kidneys will decrease by almost 25%, depending on the intensity and frequency of exercise. The heavier the exercise you do, the less blood flow to the kidneys. This condition is one of the causes of kidney disease after exercising.
In addition, arrhythmias or heart rhythm disorders are also at risk. The European Heart Journal in 2013 advised those who have a family history of heart rhythm disorders not to do physical activity that burns excess fat because it can have a negative impact on heart health. Excessive exercise can also affect the health of the digestive system and immune system.
What are the signs if you are over-exercising?
Watch for signs that you are overexerting, such as: extreme fatigue, decreased appetite, muscle cramps, confusion, lack of focus, impaired coordination of movements, and poor exercise performance. If you experience this, stop immediately and rest.
If you feel that your body condition has improved, you can start exercising again with a lighter intensity. However, if your condition worsens, go to the nearest health professional immediately.
Exercise should not be done haphazardly
But don't let the dangers of exercise above deter you from exercising. It is better if you consult beforehand with your medical personnel and personal trainer regarding the types of sports that will be done. Finally, do sports with great enthusiasm and fun so you don't feel overwhelmed.
In addition, of course you cannot live a healthy life if you only rely on exercise alone. You still have to pay attention and consume healthy and nutritious foods. Dr. Steven Blair, a sports researcher at the University of South Carolina says it's not easy to burn the calories you get from what you eat. In addition to paying attention to what you eat and drink, stay away from bad lifestyles such as smoking.
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