Need to slow down in gym

Hyderabad: Although physical exercise has always been known for its numerous benefits, ingesting painkillers and supplements and trying to push oneself beyond one’s capacity are proving to be fatal.

Two deaths have already been recorded in the city this year in addition to the six people who had to be admitted to city hospitals for emergency treatment due to the aforestated reasons.

Senior cardiologist and member of the Cardiology Society of India Dr Ravi Shanker explained, “Six young patients reported sudden congestion in heart and had suffered mild attacks. After evaluation, it was found that strenuous exercise in the gym had led to the situation. Fortunately, they reached the hospitals in time for treatment.”

While those who made it in time received emergency treatment and are alright now, the 31-year-old Aditya Singh from

SR Nagar and 22-year-old G. Varun from Madhapur were not that lucky.

While Aditya Singh’s autopsy report does not indicate injuries, it was found that he had taken painkillers to ease the pain after an arduous exercise session.

A chemical analysis of his stomach was taken up to identify this.

Dr Krupal Singh, head of Gandhi Hospital’s forensic department, explained, “An enlarged heart suggests the possibility of underlying heart disease, which can cause blockage and subsequently, sudden death. In the forensic department, we can identify injuries, changes in the condition of the heart and internal disturbances, if any. However, if a chemical is suspected to be responsible for sudden death, then it requires looking into the contents of the stomach.”

Singh’s death has given rise to discussions about the safety of the exercise routines commonly observed in gym circles.

Neurophysiotherapist Dr Rama Krishna explained, “How well a person can adapt to the intensity of a workout is the most convenient benchmark for assessing the impact of exercise. There are easy, moderate, and advanced exercise routines which must be observed by very carefully taking into consideration the age, body weight, and stability factor of the person. By subtracting one’s age from 220, one can derive the ideal target heart rate for an individual. For example, if one’s age is 45 years, then the target heart rate will be (220 - 45) 175 beats per minute. This means that the heart rate of a 45-year-old must not cross this threshold. Sixty per cent of the target heart rate is ideally considered to be safe.”

Certified American Council of Exercise trainer Venkat Madamal explained, “Certified trainers achieve their physique after over 20 years of hard work. However, youngsters these days walk into the gym expecting to look like that in six months — a rather unrealistic approach. It is the bias in the perception of aspirants which leads them to resort to harmful drills. This has led to an increasing number of cases of injuries, muscle pulls, pain, and disability. It is critical to follow a scientifically approved routine in order to ensure safe progress.”

City hospitals have recorded over 100 cases of knee injuries and muscle pulls and over 20 cases of spine problems in overenthusiastic fitness buffs.

At the clinical level, such cases have time and again shown that apart from performing exercises incorrectly, the desire to achieve quick results is a major reason for the mishaps. Additionally, pre and post-workout supplements and drugs have been noted to increase the likelihood of such occurrences. Even smoking are drinking are known to aggravate physical issues if indulged in before or after an exercise session.