Safe Exercise for Someone With Heart Disease

When you’ve been diagnosed with heart disease or have had heart surgery, exercise is an important part of keeping your condition under control.

Check with your doctor about:

What’s safe. Your doctor can let you know what activities are OK for you to do. You may have more options than you think.

Ask your doctor about exercises such as pushups and sit-ups. These exercises involve straining muscles against other muscles or an immovable object. You may need to avoid them.

Don’t exercise if you’re not feeling well or have a fever. People with heart problems should wait a few days after all symptoms disappear before restarting an exercise program, unless your doctor gives other directions.

Stop activity if you develop a rapid or irregular heartbeat or have heart palpitations. Check your pulse after you’ve rested for 15 minutes. If it’s still above 100-120 beats per minute, call the doctor.

If you feel pain while exercising, don’t ignore it. Stop when you have chest pain or pain anywhere else in your body. You could injure your joints.

Stop and rest if you:

Feel weak

Are dizzy or light-headed

Have unexplained weight gain or swelling — call the doctor right away

Feel pressure or pain in your chest, neck, arm, jaw, or shoulder

Are concerned for any reason

Call the doctor if the symptoms don’t go away.com/heart-disease/encouraging-safe-exercise?page=2″>View Article Sources