Health · Fitness & Nutrition · 13 hrs ago
Cardiologist advises gradual exercise increases and attention to warning signs
Dr Manish Aggarwal, a cardiologist at Yashoda Medicity, says exercise is generally good for heart health, but suddenly pushing too hard can be risky.
He warns that people moving from little activity to demanding workouts should increase intensity gradually so their bodies can adapt.
Marathon training, high-intensity interval training, long-distance cycling and boot camps can become concerns when training rises quickly or recovery is insufficient.
Some endurance athletes have been found to have atrial fibrillation or increased calcium deposits in coronary arteries, but this does not prove vigorous exercise caused those conditions.
For most adults, Aggarwal recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week, plus muscle-strengthening exercise on at least two days.
Excessive tiredness, falling performance, insomnia, an unusually high resting heart rate, persistent muscle soreness and a sudden loss of exercise tolerance may signal overtraining.
He also stresses hydration, nutrition, sleep and recovery days, and says exercise plans should match a person's fitness, age and health.
Cardiologist Dr Manish Aggarwal advises people to increase exercise intensity gradually and allow time for recovery.
He says vigorous exercise can raise the risk of heart disease for people who have never trained before.
He recommends most adults aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week.
Signs that may call for reducing exercise include excessive tiredness, decreased performance, insomnia and an unusually elevated resting heart rate.
Aggarwal says endurance sports are not inherently bad for the heart, and that reported heart conditions among some endurance athletes do not establish that vigorous exercise caused them.
- Who
- Dr Manish Aggarwal, director of interventional cardiology and structural heart at Yashoda Medicity.
- What
- He advised increasing exercise gradually, allowing recovery and watching for signs of overtraining.
- When
- The article was published on October 11, 2026.
- Where
- Yashoda Medicity is named as Aggarwal’s workplace; the article does not state where the advice was given.
- Why
- Increasing exercise intensity too quickly or not allowing enough recovery can put stress on the body and may raise heart risks.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Vigorous exercise can raise the risk of heart disease among people who have never trained before
For most adults, a practical starting point is at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week, along with muscle-strengthening exercises on at least two days.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Publication date
- October 11, 2026
- Moderate aerobic activity
- At least 150 minutes per week for most adults
- Vigorous activity
- At least 75 minutes per week for most adults
- Strength training
- At least two days per week
- Possible overtraining signs
- Excessive tiredness, decreased performance, insomnia, elevated resting heart rate, persistent muscle soreness and a sudden decrease in exercise tolerance
Sources
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