Stay Active, But Do it Safely With These Physical Activity Guidelines for Those With Heart Disease
If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with heart disease or had heart surgery, the doctor probably explained that exercise is an important part of keeping the condition under control. But is it safe for someone diagnosed with heart disease to keep exercising like he/she has been, or do changes need to me made? And what exercises are best?

If you've been diagnosed with heart disease or have undergone heart surgery, here are some things to discuss with your doctor:

Medication changes. New medications can greatly affect your response to exercise; your doctor can tell you if your normal exercise routine is still safe.

Heavy lifting. Lifting or pushing heavy objects and chores such as raking, shoveling, mowing, or scrubbing may be off limits for you. Chores around the house can be tiring for some people; make sure you only do what you are able to do without getting tired.

Safe exercises. Get the doctor's approval before you lift weights, use a weight machine, jog, or swim.

• Be sure any exercise is paced and balanced with rest.
• Ask your doctor about avoiding isometric exercises. Isometric exercises involve pushing or pulling against an immovable object.
• Don't exercise outdoors when it is too cold, hot, or humid. High humidity may cause you to tire more quickly; extreme temperatures can interfere with circulation, make breathing difficult, and cause chest pain. Better choices are indoor activities such as mall walking.
• Make sure you stay hydrated. It is important to drink water even before you feel thirsty, especially on hot days.
• Avoid extremely hot and cold showers or sauna baths after exercise. These extreme temperatures increase the workload on the heart.
• Steer clear of exercise in hilly areas. If you must walk in steep areas, make sure to slow down when going uphill to avoid working too hard. Monitor your heart rate closely.
• If your exercise program has been interrupted for a few days (for example, due to illness, vacation, or bad weather), make sure to ease back into the routine. Start with a reduced level of activity, and gradually increase it until you are back where you started.

Exercise Precautions
There are many precautions to keep in mind when developing an exercise program for yourself or a loved one with heart disease.

• Stop the exercise if you become overly fatigued or short of breath; discuss the symptoms with a doctor or schedule an appointment for evaluation.
• Do not exercise if you are not feeling well or have a fever. Heart patients should wait a few days after all symptoms disappear before restarting the exercise program, unless their doctor gives other directions.
• Stop the activity if you develop a rapid or irregular heartbeat or have heart palpitations. Check your pulse after you have rested for 15 minutes. If it's still above 100-120 beats per minute, call the doctor for further instructions.

*If you experience pain don't ignore it. If you have chest pain or pain anywhere else in the body, do not allow the activity to continue. Performing an activity while in pain may cause stress or damage to the joints.

Symptoms to Watch Out for
Stop exercising if you:

• Feel weak.
• Are dizzy or lightheaded.
• Have unexplained weight gain or swelling (call the doctor right away).
• Have pressure or pain in the chest, neck, arm, jaw, or shoulder.
• Have any other symptoms that cause concern.

Call the doctor if symptoms do not go away.

*Information adapted from WebMD

Learn more about the benefits of physical activity

Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults and Kids