Exercise timing and men's health in relation to causes of abdominal pain

Unsuitable Times for Exercise

People generally choose to exercise after waking up in the morning. Scientific research suggests that the sympathetic nervous system is excited, heart rate increases, and blood viscosity rises after waking up in the morning, making it a high-risk time for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular accidents. The morning is the "morning peak" for coronary heart disease attacks; therefore, exercise should not be performed during this time, but rather around 4-6 PM.

A Harvard University study of 4,000 patients with a history of coronary heart disease found that the peak time for coronary heart disease attacks is between 6 AM and 12 PM, especially around 9 AM. The probability of an attack around 9 AM is three times higher than around 11 PM.

A typical heart attack occurs when blood clots form in a narrowed coronary artery, blocking blood flow to the heart muscle. This leads to insufficient blood supply to the corresponding area of ​​myocardium, causing permanent damage to this ischemic heart muscle—a myocardial infarction. The patient's chances of survival depend primarily on the extent of the myocardial infarction. Researchers point out that heart attacks in the morning may be due to increased blood clotting ability and insulin secretion, coupled with changes in the structure of atherosclerotic deposits caused by elevated blood pressure in the morning, leading to blood clot formation. To prevent myocardial infarction, exercise should avoid the "morning peak" and is better performed in the afternoon or evening.

Furthermore, it is not advisable to exercise immediately after a large meal or after drinking alcohol. In the dead of winter, cold air below 0°C blowing directly on the face can induce coronary artery spasm. At this time, special attention should be paid to avoiding the two most likely "dangerous triad" of sudden death: "large meal, excessive drinking, and excitement," and "cold winter, early morning, and heavy snow." Exercise should be absolutely avoided at these times.

Stomach pain during exercise: investigate carefully.

Many people experience exercise-related illnesses during exercise, such as running or playing ball, including stomach pain, medically known as exercise-induced abdominal pain. Men are particularly prone to this.

Why does abdominal pain occur during exercise? This is due to prolonged mechanical stimulation of the gastrointestinal system. The pain is generally located in the upper right abdomen, but occasionally in the upper left or lower abdomen.

Exercise-induced abdominal pain can be categorized into three causes:

Intra-abdominal diseases: People with liver or gallbladder diseases are prone to abdominal pain during exercise, especially strenuous exercise, due to vasoconstriction, ischemia, hypoxia, and irritation from metabolic products.

Extra-abdominal diseases: Conditions such as pleurisy, kidney stones, and abdominal muscle strain can all cause abdominal pain.

Respiratory muscle spasms: The main respiratory muscles are the intercostal muscles and the diaphragm. When exercise is strenuous, spasms in these muscles can cause pain. The pain is usually located in the rib area and is often caused by insufficient deep breathing or excessively rapid breathing during exercise. Additionally, inadequate warm-up can lead to insufficient cardiovascular capacity to adapt to the muscle workload, resulting in respiratory muscle hypoxia, which can also exacerbate the pain.

In general, exercise-induced abdominal pain is caused by poor breathing rhythm during exercise, excessively fast exercise speed, eating too much or too many different kinds of food before exercise, exercising on an empty stomach, and excessively low external temperature. It is recommended that men exercise gradually, avoid eating too much before strenuous exercise, avoid eating foods they are not used to, and learn to adjust their movements and breathing. If exercise-induced abdominal pain occurs, slow down the exercise speed or stop exercising. Pain medication can be taken if necessary.