BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuBeing active when you have heart diseaseHeart disease - activity; CAD - activity; Coronary artery disease - activity; Angina - activityGetting regular exercise when you have heart disease is important. Physical activity can strengthen your heart muscle and help you manage blood pressure and cholesterol levels.Exercise and Your HeartGetting regular exercise when you have heart disease is important.Exercise can make your heart muscle stronger. It may also help you be more active without chest pain or other symptoms.Exercise may help lower your blood pressure and cholesterol. If you have diabetes, it can help you control your blood sugar.Regular exercise can help you lose weight. You will also feel better.Exercise will also help keep your bones strong.Always talk with your health care provider before starting an exercise program. You need to make sure the exercise you would like to do is safe for you. This is particularly important if:You recently had a heart attack. You have been having chest pain or pressure, or shortness of breath. You have diabetes. You recently had a heart procedure or heart surgery. Types of Exercise you can doYour provider will tell you what exercise is best for you. Talk with your provider before you start a new exercise program. Also ask if it is OK before you do a harder activity.Aerobic activity uses your heart and lungs for a long period of time. It also helps your heart use oxygen better and improves blood flow. You want to make your heart work a little harder every time, but not too hard.Start slowly. Choose an aerobic activity such as walking, swimming, light jogging, or biking. Do this at least 3 to 4 times a week.Always do 5 minutes of stretching or moving around to warm up your muscles and heart before exercising. Allow time to cool down after you exercise. Do the same activity but at a slower pace.Take rest periods before you get too tired. If you feel tired or have any heart symptoms, stop. Wear comfortable clothing for the exercise you are doing.During hot weather, exercise in the morning or evening. Be careful not to wear too many layers of clothes. You can also go to an indoor shopping mall to walk.When it is cold, cover your nose and mouth when exercising outside. Go to an indoor shopping mall if it is too cold or snowy to exercise outside. Ask your provider if it is OK for you to exercise when it is below freezing.Resistance weight training may improve your strength and help your muscles work together better. This can make it easier to do daily activities. These exercises are good for you. But keep in mind they do not help your heart like aerobic exercise does.Check out your weight-training routine with your provider first. Go easy, and do not strain too hard. It is better to do lighter sets of exercise when you have heart disease than to work out too hard.You may need advice from a physical therapist or trainer. They can show you how to do exercises the right way. Make sure you breathe steadily and switch between upper and lower body work. Rest often.You may be eligible for a formal cardiac rehabilitation program. Ask your provider if you can have a referral.Pace Yourself and Know Your LimitsIf exercise puts too much strain on your heart, you may have pain and other symptoms, such as:Dizziness or lightheadedness Chest pain Irregular heartbeat or pulse Shortness of breath NauseaIt is important that you pay attention to these warning signs. Stop what you are doing. Rest.Know how to treat your heart symptoms if they happen.Know how to treat your heart symptoms i...Angina is a type of chest discomfort due to poor blood flow through the blood vessels of the heart muscle. This article discusses how to care for yo...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Always carry some nitroglycerin pills with you if your provider has prescribed them.If you have symptoms, write down what you were doing and the time of day. Share this with your provider. If these symptoms are very bad or do not go away when you stop the activity, let your provider know right away. Your provider can give you advice about exercise at your regular medical appointments.Know your resting pulse rate. Also know a safe exercising pulse rate. Try taking your pulse during exercise. This way, you can see if your heart is beating at a safe exercise rate. If it is too high, slow down. Then, take it again after exercise to see if it comes back to normal within about 10 minutes.You can take your pulse in the wrist area below the base of your thumb. Use your index and third fingers of the opposite hand to locate your pulse and count the number of beats per minute.Drink plenty of water. Take frequent breaks during exercise or other strenuous activities.When to Call the DoctorContact your provider if you feel:Pain, pressure, tightness, or heaviness in the chest, arm, neck, or jaw Shortness of breath Gas pains or indigestion Numbness in your arms Sweaty, or if you lose color Lightheaded Changes in your angina may mean your heart disease is getting worse. Contact your provider if your angina:Becomes stronger Occurs more often Lasts longer Occurs when you are not active or when you are resting Does not get better when you take your medicine Also contact if you cannot exercise as much as you are used to being able to.Open ReferencesReferencesFihn SD, Blankenship JC, Alexander KP, et al. 2014 ACC/AHA/AATS/PCNA/SCAI/STS focused update of the guideline for the diagnosis and management of patients with stable ischemic heart disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines, and the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, and Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Circulation. 2014;130:1749-1767. PMID: 25070666 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25070666/.Mora S, Libby P, Ridker PM. Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 25.Morrow DA, de Lemos J. Stable ischemic heart disease. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 40.Thomas RJ. Comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022 chap 33.AllVideoImagesTogCardiovascular disease - descriptionAnimation Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersCardiovascular disease - description - Animation Cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers to a group of disorders that affect the heart and blood vessels. While cardiovascular disease can refer to many different types of heart or blood vessel problems, it is most often used to describe damage caused to the heart or blood vessels by atherosclerosis. Although the death rates in the United States from both heart disease and stroke have decreased significantly over the past 30 years, cardiovascular disease still contributes to about 40 percent of all deaths in the United States, and is still the leading cause of death in developed countries.Being active after a heart attack - illustration A prescription for physical activity is important after a heart attack. It is important to follow the guidelines for physical activity from your clinical team. Start slowly, and increase the amount of time you exercise gradually.Being active after a heart attackillustrationCardiovascular disease - descriptionAnimation Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersCardiovascular disease - description - Animation Cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers to a group of disorders that affect the heart and blood vessels. While cardiovascular disease can refer to many different types of heart or blood vessel problems, it is most often used to describe damage caused to the heart or blood vessels by atherosclerosis. Although the death rates in the United States from both heart disease and stroke have decreased significantly over the past 30 years, cardiovascular disease still contributes to about 40 percent of all deaths in the United States, and is still the leading cause of death in developed countries.Being active after a heart attack - illustration A prescription for physical activity is important after a heart attack. It is important to follow the guidelines for physical activity from your clinical team. Start slowly, and increase the amount of time you exercise gradually.Being active after a heart attackillustrationA Closer Look Coronary artery disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Heart attack and acute coronary syndrome - InDepth(In-Depth)Lyme disease and related tick-borne infections - InDepth(In-Depth)Parkinson disease(Alt. Medicine)Sickle cell disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Exercise - InDepth(In-Depth)Diabetes - type 2 - InDepth(In-Depth)Omega-3 fatty acids(Alt. Medicine)Peripheral artery disease and intermittent claudication - InDepth(In-Depth)Parkinson disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Self Care Being active when you have heart diseaseHeart disease and depressionBeing active after your heart attackDiabetes - preventing heart attack and strokeDiabetes - keeping active Heart failure - fluids and diureticsDay to day with COPDExercise and activity - childrenExercise and activity for weight lossType 2 diabetes - self-care Tests for Being active when you have heart disease Mesenteric angiographyRelated Information Heart failure(Condition)High blood cholesterol levels(Condition)Stroke(Condition)Angina(Condition)Heart bypass surgery(Surgery)Heart bypass surgery - minimally invasive(Surgery)Angina - discharge(Discharge)Angioplasty and stent - heart - discharge (Discharge)Aspirin and heart disease(Self-Care)Butter, margarine, and cooking oils(Self-Care)Cardiac catheterization - discharge (Discharge)Controlling your high blood pressure(Self-Care)Heart bypass surgery - discharge(Discharge)Heart bypass surgery - minimally invasive - discharge(Discharge)Heart failure - discharge(Discharge)ACE inhibitors(Self-Care)Coronary artery disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Exercise - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 8/16/2022 Reviewed By: Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Being active when you have heart diseaseHeart disease - activity; CAD - activity; Coronary artery disease - activity; Angina - activityGetting regular exercise when you have heart disease is important. Physical activity can strengthen your heart muscle and help you manage blood pressure and cholesterol levels.Exercise and Your HeartGetting regular exercise when you have heart disease is important.Exercise can make your heart muscle stronger. It may also help you be more active without chest pain or other symptoms.Exercise may help lower your blood pressure and cholesterol. If you have diabetes, it can help you control your blood sugar.Regular exercise can help you lose weight. You will also feel better.Exercise will also help keep your bones strong.Always talk with your health care provider before starting an exercise program. You need to make sure the exercise you would like to do is safe for you. This is particularly important if:You recently had a heart attack. You have been having chest pain or pressure, or shortness of breath. You have diabetes. You recently had a heart procedure or heart surgery. Types of Exercise you can doYour provider will tell you what exercise is best for you. Talk with your provider before you start a new exercise program. Also ask if it is OK before you do a harder activity.Aerobic activity uses your heart and lungs for a long period of time. It also helps your heart use oxygen better and improves blood flow. You want to make your heart work a little harder every time, but not too hard.Start slowly. Choose an aerobic activity such as walking, swimming, light jogging, or biking. Do this at least 3 to 4 times a week.Always do 5 minutes of stretching or moving around to warm up your muscles and heart before exercising. Allow time to cool down after you exercise. Do the same activity but at a slower pace.Take rest periods before you get too tired. If you feel tired or have any heart symptoms, stop. Wear comfortable clothing for the exercise you are doing.During hot weather, exercise in the morning or evening. Be careful not to wear too many layers of clothes. You can also go to an indoor shopping mall to walk.When it is cold, cover your nose and mouth when exercising outside. Go to an indoor shopping mall if it is too cold or snowy to exercise outside. Ask your provider if it is OK for you to exercise when it is below freezing.Resistance weight training may improve your strength and help your muscles work together better. This can make it easier to do daily activities. These exercises are good for you. But keep in mind they do not help your heart like aerobic exercise does.Check out your weight-training routine with your provider first. Go easy, and do not strain too hard. It is better to do lighter sets of exercise when you have heart disease than to work out too hard.You may need advice from a physical therapist or trainer. They can show you how to do exercises the right way. Make sure you breathe steadily and switch between upper and lower body work. Rest often.You may be eligible for a formal cardiac rehabilitation program. Ask your provider if you can have a referral.Pace Yourself and Know Your LimitsIf exercise puts too much strain on your heart, you may have pain and other symptoms, such as:Dizziness or lightheadedness Chest pain Irregular heartbeat or pulse Shortness of breath NauseaIt is important that you pay attention to these warning signs. Stop what you are doing. Rest.Know how to treat your heart symptoms if they happen.Know how to treat your heart symptoms i...Angina is a type of chest discomfort due to poor blood flow through the blood vessels of the heart muscle. This article discusses how to care for yo...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Always carry some nitroglycerin pills with you if your provider has prescribed them.If you have symptoms, write down what you were doing and the time of day. Share this with your provider. If these symptoms are very bad or do not go away when you stop the activity, let your provider know right away. Your provider can give you advice about exercise at your regular medical appointments.Know your resting pulse rate. Also know a safe exercising pulse rate. Try taking your pulse during exercise. This way, you can see if your heart is beating at a safe exercise rate. If it is too high, slow down. Then, take it again after exercise to see if it comes back to normal within about 10 minutes.You can take your pulse in the wrist area below the base of your thumb. Use your index and third fingers of the opposite hand to locate your pulse and count the number of beats per minute.Drink plenty of water. Take frequent breaks during exercise or other strenuous activities.When to Call the DoctorContact your provider if you feel:Pain, pressure, tightness, or heaviness in the chest, arm, neck, or jaw Shortness of breath Gas pains or indigestion Numbness in your arms Sweaty, or if you lose color Lightheaded Changes in your angina may mean your heart disease is getting worse. Contact your provider if your angina:Becomes stronger Occurs more often Lasts longer Occurs when you are not active or when you are resting Does not get better when you take your medicine Also contact if you cannot exercise as much as you are used to being able to.Open ReferencesReferencesFihn SD, Blankenship JC, Alexander KP, et al. 2014 ACC/AHA/AATS/PCNA/SCAI/STS focused update of the guideline for the diagnosis and management of patients with stable ischemic heart disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines, and the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, and Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Circulation. 2014;130:1749-1767. PMID: 25070666 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25070666/.Mora S, Libby P, Ridker PM. Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 25.Morrow DA, de Lemos J. Stable ischemic heart disease. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 40.Thomas RJ. Comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022 chap 33.