[HIGHLIGHTS] Cardiac arrest: can it be caused by extreme exertion?

Uruguayan doctor Gonzalo Leal died while trying to swim across the Río de la Plata. Leal reportedly died of cardiac arrest.

Can excessive effort cause cardiac arrest? Two cardiologists responded without referring to the case of the Uruguayan man in particular. Strenuous physical activity can be a trigger for acute myocardial infarction due to overwork of the heart, particularly in sedentary people. It is very important to do physical activity regularly, this reduces the risk of sudden death.