Excessive exercise can trigger heart disease or prove fatal for some people, the Health Promotion Administration (HPA) warned yesterday.
Agency officials cited the case of a Taipei man who was about 50 years old, ate a well-balanced diet and did a lot of exercise, but died after an intensive gym workout.
After eating out with friends and family for several days, he went to a gym and ran 10km at a fast pace on a treadmill, followed by weight training and other high-intensity exercises, the agency said.
He reportedly felt short of breath, had chest tightness and general weakness afterwards, and died that night after his condition worsened, the agency said.
In another case, a 37-year-old man taking part in a 9km evening running event in Miaoli County collapsed about 200m before the finish line and died later in a hospital emergency room, the agency said.
Heart disease was the No. 2 in cause of death in Taiwan in 2014, with 19,400 deaths or an average of one person every 27 minutes, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
The World Heart Federation cites heart disease, stroke and cardiovascular disease as the No. 1 causes of death around the world, accounting for about 30 percent of all deaths, the agency said.
It also cited a 2015 study from the Journal of American College of Cardiology saying that middle-aged or elderly people who do not exercise regularly have a higher risk of triggering a heart attack or sudden cardiac death if they suddenly start doing strenuous exercise.
National Taiwan University Hospital cardiologist Tzung-Dau Wang (王宗道) said long-term regular exercise routines can improve cardiorespiratory endurance and be beneficial for overall health, but suddenly doing too much exercise can have negative effects.
The Health Promotion Administration said people should establish a regular exercise routine — about three to five times a week for at least 30 minutes per time, and start with mild exercise before gradually increasing the time, frequency and intensity of the workout.
People should also discuss their exercise plans with a doctor if they have a cardiovascular disease, it said.
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