In October, social media users were shocked by the sudden death of influencer Farah Fakhira Fakhrulruzi’s husband, who reportedly collapsed while playing badminton at night.
The death of Zaidul Ariff Abdul Malek, who was in his 30s, on Oct 31 came just five days after a similar incident involving a 35-year-old man who also collapsed and died while playing badminton at night.
Both men were reported to have died from heart attacks. Such cases are not unusual as deaths during nighttime sports have been reported before, prompting some netizens to float the “theory” that strenuous activity at night is dangerous because the body is supposedly preparing to rest.
But is this true?
SPORTS NOT THE CAUSE
Commenting on this, Dr Mohd Naufal Yunos, a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Science at Universiti Malaya, said participating in sports at night is not the cause of fatal heart attacks.
Instead, he said, the risk depends on a person’s underlying health, such as undiagnosed heart conditions, high blood pressure or obesity.
“Generally, playing sports at night only increases the risk of muscle injuries or fatigue, not heart attacks. A heart attack is more closely linked to a person’s health status, particularly if someone has an undetected heart condition, is unfit, seldom exercises or suddenly engages in a high-intensity activity,” he explained.
pic-3
“In such cases, the sport only triggers an existing heart issue. For healthy, active individuals who exercise regularly, sports, even at night, do not cause death.”
He, however, acknowledged that nighttime sports may pose different challenges because the body is naturally preparing for rest, with a drop in body temperature and decrease in coordination, while the parasympathetic nervous system becomes more dominant.
“Late at night, the body is preparing to rest, so sudden strenuous activity can place an extra burden on the heart. When the body is in rest mode, a sudden shift to active mode can strain the cardiovascular system. Sleepiness, reduced focus and poorer coordination also increase the risk of injury,” he said.
However, he stressed that physiological factors such as lower body temperature or reduced coordination are minor challenges and generally do not increase heart attack risk.
BEST TIME TO EXERCISE
Touching on the benefits of sports and exercise, Mohd Naufal said the benefits are holistic, encompassing biological, psychological and social aspects.
“From a physiological perspective, sports enhance cardiovascular efficiency and musculoskeletal strength (muscles and bones), and improve glucose metabolism (reduce diabetes risk). Psychologically, sports stimulate the release of endorphins and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which help reduce stress and the risk of depression,” he said, adding that sports support mental health and reduce the risk of developing obesity and non-communicable diseases.
When asked about the best time to exercise or play sports, Mohd Naufal said morning to early afternoon is ideal because the body is at its peak physiological performance, with optimal muscle strength, stamina and cardiovascular function.
“If someone’s goal is metabolic adaptation (for example, better glucose or lipid control), evening sports activities or workouts may offer an added advantage. Still, there is no single ‘best time’ for everyone.
“Individual factors such as daily routines, type of sport, and training or competition schedules matter greatly. Practically, consistency is key: choose a time you can maintain regularly and that fits your lifestyle,” he said.
On whether certain sports are more suitable at night than during the day, the expert said there is generally no sport that is exclusively suited for night.
pic-4
However, light to moderate activities such as leisurely jogging, walking, yoga, aerobics or casual cycling can be done at night as they do not require peak performance and can help release daily stress while improving sleep quality.
“Nighttime is also suitable for outdoor activities in hot climates because the temperature is cooler and the surroundings are less crowded. High-intensity sports such as futsal, badminton or basketball can be played at night if a person is healthy, active and already accustomed to nighttime training schedules as the body can adapt to the circadian rhythm.
“Ultimately, choosing the right time to exercise should be based on comfort, safety and consistency,” he said.
REGULAR EXERCISE
Explaining the benefits of exercising regularly at different times of the day, Mohd Naufal said workouts between 8 am and 11 am can improve insulin sensitivity and support fat burning, and are also associated with a lower risk of heart disease and stroke, particularly among women.
“Exercising between 11 am and 5 pm, when the body temperature is higher and muscle flexibility greater, boosts performance and reduces the risk of premature death from heart disease, especially among men, older adults and those with existing heart conditions,” he said.
He added that workouts from 6 pm to early night can improve blood vessel elasticity, reduce strain on the heart and lower blood pressure for up to 24 hours.
“It (exercising at night) also allows for higher-intensity training because more energy is available, and it supports overall cardiovascular health. Ultimately, the best time to exercise depends on individual comfort and consistency because health benefits will follow as long as the activity is done regularly,” he explained.
He added that those with heart, sleep or digestive issues should consult a healthcare professional before beginning an exercise routine at night.
HEART ATTACKS DURING SPORTS
Consultant physician and cardiologist at Putra Medical Centre in Alor Setar, Kedah, Col (R) Dr Mohamad Anuar Mohamad, meanwhile, said there is no restriction on participating in sports at night, but people should ideally undergo heart health screening beforehand.
“A healthy heart will function well at night, while an unhealthy heart is at higher risk during that period,” he told Bernama.
He explained that sports require high-intensity movement and substantial energy, and without adequate physical conditioning, the body may struggle with the surge of adrenaline, causing the heart to beat faster than it can handle.
pic-5
Dr Mohamad Anuar also said the increased risk at night stems from the adverse effects of intense activity on sleep patterns and disturbances to the heart’s autonomic system during the early hours of sleep at night. He said fatigue accumulated during the day can also raise the risk of sudden death at night due to heart problems.
“Disturbances to the heart’s autonomic system, known as the circadian rhythm which regulates the heart’s 24-hour physiological cycle including the pulse rate, ECG patterns and blood pressure, may occur when intense physical activity takes place at a time when the organs are supposed to be resting,” he said.
Dr Mohamad Anuar added that people in high-risk groups are not encouraged to exercise at night, depending on their specific heart conditions. Such people include individuals with blocked coronary arteries (ischemia), obesity, hypertension, diabetes or high cholesterol; those with structural heart diseases such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, aortic stenosis, heart failure or arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia; and those with cardiac conduction disorders such as atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmia, heart block or atrial flutter.
Referring to a 2022 scientific study titled ‘Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine’, he said excessive physical activity at night was shown to increase the risk of heart-related death compared to similar high-intensity activity during the day.
In medical terms, heart disease refers to conditions involving blocked coronary arteries (ischemia) and heart structure, or cardiac conduction system disorders – all of which can lead to sudden cardiac death.
Dr Mohamad Anuar said signs and symptoms of heart disease vary depending on the type. Blocked arteries often cause left-sided chest pain with a pressing or stabbing sensation and numbness radiating to the left arm or jaw, as well as sweating, palpitations and weakness.
“For those with structural heart disease such as heart failure or valve and muscle problems, symptoms include fatigue, breathlessness and occasional palpitations.
“For those with cardiac conduction system disorders, symptoms commonly include palpitations, fainting, dizziness or sudden loss of consciousness,” he said.
THE RIGHT TIME
According to Dr Mohamad Anuar, daytime is generally more suitable for sports because many people are already fatigued at night from daily activities and the body’s organs also need rest at night.
Even for those who can only exercise at night, he noted that disruptions to the circadian rhythm during the early sleep period are a key reason why nighttime physical activity can carry a higher risk.
His advice to those participating in sports at night is to refrain from overworking during the day and to ensure they have adequate rest.
“This helps stabilise blood pressure, glucose levels and the pulse rate, ensuring the body is not in a stressed state when exercising at night,” he said, adding that for nighttime workouts, low- to moderate-intensity exercises are most suitable.
pic-2
Dr Mohamad Anuar added that people should also recognise early signs of cardiac strain during exercise, such as extreme fatigue.
“Preferably, if you plan to exercise at night, make sure you have had sufficient daytime rest to maintain stable blood pressure and glucose levels. It’s also important to choose moderate-intensity activities and avoid exercising too late at night as this disrupts the natural circadian rhythm,” he said.
He reminded the public to maintain heart health through regular screening, a healthy lifestyle and stress management.
BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; www.bernama.com; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies.
Follow us on social media :
Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio
Twitter : @bernama.com, @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio
Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial
TikTok : @bernamaofficial
