Too Much Exercise Can Increase Heart Plaques in White Men

We exercise to remain healthy and especially in older age it’s important to stay active to protect cardiovascular health, maintain muscle mass and retain bone density.   But can too much of a good thing be bad?

According to a new study from the University of Illinois, caucasian men who exercise more than three times national guidelines are at significant risk to develop a buildup of plaque in their hearts by the time they are middle aged.   In fact, white men who work out excessively are at an 86 per cent greater risk than black men or those who exercise less to develop a buildup of calcium and plaque in their heart’s arteries.

Science Daily reports the 25 year experiment found that overall men, regardless of race, who were avid exercisers working out 450 minutes each week were 27 per cent more likely to develop coronary artery calcification (CAC) by the end of study. 

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death among both men and women in the United States. 

The take-away?

Moderate exercise is important to good health and both men and women should try to get at least the recommended 150 minutes per week.  But very high levels of activity can place stress on the arteries which may lead to greater incidences of CAC.

Study authors plan to take the work further to evaluate outcomes including heart attacks and death.  It is believed that this kind of plaque buildup may be more stable and less likely to rupture.  But the current study did not evaluate this possibility.

To read more about the long-term study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings follow this link.