How to Exercise With Heart Disease

“For people with heart disease, staying active is key to managing your condition and improving quality of life,” said Daniel Appelbaum, MD, Catholic Health Cardiologist.

What are the benefits of exercise for people with heart disease?

Regular exercise can help control or modify risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Research shows that people who exercise regularly are less likely to have a life-threatening cardiac event.

Exercise can aid in weight loss, which can help improve heart health.

For people with heart disease, staying active with the right exercises can:

• Control blood sugar
• Lower blood pressure
• Lower cholesterol
• Maintain a healthy body weight
• Maintain a healthy heart rate
• Make bones stronger
• Strengthen the heart muscle

However, knowing how to exercise safely when you have heart disease can feel overwhelming.  

“Talk to your cardiologist before starting an exercise program,” said Dr. Appelbaum. “This will help ensure your safety and set you up for success in managing your condition.”

There are resources and strategies to help you exercise safely and confidently. A cardiac rehabilitation program designed for people with heart disease is a helpful place to start. You will learn the most effective exercises to improve your heart health and how to recognize any warning signs to stop or adjust your activity.

What are the benefits of a cardiac rehabilitation program?

If you have had a heart attack or another heart problem, cardiac rehabilitation is an important part of the recovery process. It can also help prevent future heart problems.

A cardiac rehabilitation program includes physical activity, health education and counseling. It strengthens your heart and body after a heart attack and relieves symptoms of heart problems. Cardiac rehab can also help you build healthier habits and prevent future illness.

The program is overseen by experts, including cardiologists, registered nurses, exercise physiologists, dietitians and psychologists. Depending on your needs, it usually lasts about three months but may take longer.

Your physician may recommend cardiac rehabilitation if you have:

• Blockages in the heart arteries that cause pain with activity
• Cardiomyopathies (diseases of the heart muscle)
• Certain congenital heart diseases (conditions that exist from birth)
• Heart attack
• Heart failure

Your cardiologist may also recommend cardiac rehabilitation after a procedure, such as an angioplasty or heart valve repair. Angioplasty is a procedure to widen blocked or narrowed heart arteries to improve blood flow.

What are the best exercises for people with heart disease?

Several exercises are beneficial for people with heart disease, including:

Aerobics

Aerobic activity improves cardiovascular conditioning. You build endurance through the continuous motion of large muscles. Lower-impact aerobic exercises include walking, swimming, cycling and rowing. You can use an elliptical, treadmill, stationary bike or rowing machine. Aim for aerobic exercise three to four times a week.

Strength or resistance training

Developing and toning your muscles, in conjunction with aerobic exercise, strengthens your overall body, improves balance, loosens joints, and expands your range of motion and flexibility. Training may include resistance bands, free weights (dumbbells) and weight-training machines. You can also push and pull your body weight with push-ups, chin-ups and squats. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends doing resistance training at least two non-consecutive days a week if you have heart disease.

Stretching exercises

Stretching is an essential part of any exercise program. You should warm up and cool down before and after exercising with stretches that make your arms, legs and back more flexible. Stretching lessens the stress on your heart and helps prevent sore muscles and joint pain. Stretch for at least five minutes before exercising and cool down with the same activity at a slower pace.

For people with heart disease, extreme heat or cold can stress the heart and make exercising difficult. If you like to walk, consider walking in an indoor mall. Talk to your physician about other suitable low-impact exercises.

Strength training can pose risks for people with heart disease. Your cardiologist and cardiac rehabilitation team will provide guidance and may recommend beginning with light weights until your endurance increases.

What other types of exercise are good for heart disease?

Your body and mind benefit from being in motion. In addition to the core components of an exercise program, you can find a favorite physical activity like gardening, dancing or walking your dog. Or you may want to join an exercise class targeted to your fitness level and approved by your physician. Sharing your goals with others can help you stay on track.

How often should I exercise?

 Research shows that exercising 150 minutes a week is good for heart health. The American Heart Association recommends a minimum of 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise five to seven days a week to help reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Your cardiac rehabilitation team may advise you to exercise in 10-minute periods until you are ready for a 30-minute program. For example, you can walk or use an exercise machine three times a day for 10 minutes each time.

Stop exercising if you experience any of the following:

• Chest pain (call 9-1-1 immediately)
• Dizziness
• Extreme sweatiness or coldness
• Nausea
• Rapid heart rate
• Shortness of breath

Recommendations for intensity, frequency and duration of exercise will vary depending on factors including your heart condition, other medical conditions and age. The key is to start slow with moderate exercise and increase your strength. You do not want to strain or overexert.