How much workout is safe for the heart? Top cardiologist explains as he warns about the risk of cardiac arrest due to too much gym time

The pursuit of fitness has become a modern-day obsession—daily gym routines with hardcore workouts. But every now and then, a tragic incident shakes this seemingly health-centric lifestyle to its core. One such case recently emerged from Himachal Pradesh, where a 35-year-old man, known to be a fitness enthusiast, suddenly died of a heart attack. The news sparked a wave of shock and concern across social media platforms, reigniting debates around workout intensity, supplement use, and the silent threats that can lurk behind muscular physiques.

Amid the growing speculation, renowned Bengaluru-based cardiologist Dr. Deepak Krishnamurthy stepped in to offer a more measured perspective. Addressing the issue on X (formerly Twitter), he emphasised the importance of waiting for confirmed details, such as postmortem findings and toxicology reports, before drawing any conclusions. He pointed out that the sudden death could have stemmed from several possible causes, ranging from a heart attack or cardiac arrest to underlying genetic conditions like cardiomyopathy or channelopathy. He also raised the possibility of contributing factors such as steroid use, recreational drugs, smoking, or alcohol consumption.

In response to a user asking whether intense workouts could be dangerous, Dr. Krishnamurthy acknowledged that over-exercising can indeed be a problem, potentially leading to cardiac arrest. As for protein shakes, another user’s concern, he called it “unlikely” unless the supplement was “adulterated with something toxic.”


Over the years, several well-known Indian entertainers have tragically died after collapsing during or shortly after workouts. Comedian Raju Srivastava passed away in 2022 after suffering chest pain at a gym. Salman Khan’s body double, Sagar Pandey, also died mid-workout. Kannada superstar Puneeth Rajkumar, 46, suffered a fatal heart attack during exercise. Actors Deepesh Bhan and Abir Goswami, aged 41 and 38, respectively, also collapsed following morning workouts, highlighting rising health risks tied to intense training.