Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Lamprey5 on 27/01/2011 21:24:32

Title: How does the body respond to too much intense exercise over a long time (weeks)?
Post by: Lamprey5 on 27/01/2011 21:24:32

I've read that the levels of cortisol and other stress hormones in the body increase when exercise happens. I also understand that when insufficient glycogen is available from the liver, the body uses fats and proteins for energy to fuel the exercise it's doing. Does the body ever catabolize it's own vital organs such as the heart if the intensity of the exercise is too great? What sort of reactions or ways of dealing with exercise does the body use when one exercises until exhaustion daily (7 days a week)?

Title: How does the body respond to too much intense exercise over a long time (weeks)?
Post by: Bill.D.Katt. on 28/01/2011 00:25:21

Before your body starts to consume the vital organs, it will consume almost all fat, and then it will go to work on nonessential muscles. I think you would probably lose consciousness before your body started consuming organs. I started a thread on "bonking," as in "depleting glycogen stores," somewhere on this forum.