Possible disadvantages of exercising too much

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Possible disadvantages of exercising too much

Vulnerability to disease

(1)Excessive exercise can increase vulnerability to disease and health problems. Athletes of varying ages who engage in long ad strenuous training programmes are more at risk from health problems than those who do moderate exercise. This has been found by looking at the number of school boys who contacted pneumonia after a period of intense sports training compared to others who only participated moderately and also the incidence of Upper respiratory tract infections in athletes who participated in a marathon compared to a group who had the same training but did not partake in the marathon.

However it is not determined if this is a causal relationship of if another variable plays a role, an explanation for this could be the close encounters athletes have with each other at sporting events which could lead to the spread of bacteria much more easily and also the stress of physical activity could be causing illness.

Immune system part

Moderate Exercise

Intense Exercise

Phagocytic White blood cells

Increased White blood cell count providing immunity boost against microbes

Suppression of the immune system