Exploring the Potential Risks of Excessive Exercise on Heart Health

Just now September 30, 2026 1 min read 📰 Medical Xpress

📋 Key Takeaway

Researchers are using the Micro-Athlete mini-heart to explore the effects of excessive exercise on heart health, questioning the common belief that more exercise is always beneficial. This research could have implications for public health and exercise recommendations in Iran. Understanding cardiovascular health is crucial as Iran faces rising rates of heart disease.

"Exercise is medicine" is a commonly quoted phrase. But as is so often the case with medications, more is not always better. What counts as too much exercise, and how can it affect the heart? Does running a marathon or competing in an Ironman triathlon boost your health, or might it do the opposite? The development of the Micro-Athlete mini-heart (a heart-on-a-chip that mimics the human heart) is giving researchers valuable new insights into cardiovascular disease.