Lack of exercise can be said to be the root of all diseases, especially the sedentary lifestyle in modern society, which not only promotes obesity, but also increases the incidence of various chronic diseases, such as heart disease.

For people who already have heart disease, although they may be more likely to encounter difficulties in exercise than the average person, or have special precautions, these are not enough to cover up the importance of exercise. This article will introduce exercise methods suitable for heart disease patients, so that we can move healthily and live happily together.

Why should people with heart disease exercise?

Common causes of heart disease are high blood pressure or atherosclerosis. Through exercise, the heart muscles can be exercised to help control blood pressure levels, and improve cardiopulmonary function to help relieve chest pain symptoms. Not only that, but the amount of high-density lipoprotein (HDL, also known as good cholesterol) in the human body can also be slightly increased by exercise.

In addition, exercise can also help the body burn calories, control weight, and avoid increasing the risk of heart disease due to obesity. According to a study by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, patients with coronary heart disease who received an exercise program had a 20-25% reduction in mortality and morbidity. In addition to coronary heart disease, the study also pointed out that patients with heart failure can also benefit from exercise.

How should people with heart disease exercise?

Generally speaking, if patients with heart disease undergo surgical treatment due to diseases or symptoms such as myocardial infarction or heart failure, they need to have a cardiac rehabilitation plan developed by a rehabilitation physician to help the patient improve heart function and maintain cardiovascular health.

The program includes an exercise training program, heart health education and helping patients manage stress. Doctors may first use Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) to evaluate the patient’s cardiorespiratory capacity in order to develop a suitable training method.

If a heart disease patient has not undergone surgery for heart disease or does not have acute symptoms such as myocardial infarction, it is recommended to discuss appropriate exercise methods with a physician first, but does not require cardiac rehabilitation.

Exercise rules for heart patients

1. Exercise frequency:
   It is recommended that patients with heart disease exercise 3 to 5 times a week, with each exercise lasting approximately 30 to 60 minutes.
   
2. Exercise intensity:
   I feel a little out of breath and can’t sing, but I can still talk.
   
3. Exercise heart rate:
   It is recommended to reach the target heart rate. The calculation formula is 60~80% × (maximum heart rate – resting heart rate) + resting heart rate, and the resulting range is the target heart rate. Taking the maximum heart rate and resting heart rate as 160bpm and 60bpm respectively as an example, the target heart rate falls between 120bpm and 140bpm. Since everyone’s physical condition is different, the calculation results are for reference only. If you find that you are unable to reach your target heart rate or have questions about your cardiopulmonary condition, it is recommended to consult a physician.
   
4. Uncomfortable symptoms during exercise:
   If you find yourself experiencing the following symptoms during exercise, please stop exercising and rest to observe your physical condition. If the condition does not improve or worsens, please seek medical treatment immediately:
   
   • Chest tightness or pain
     
   • arm pain
     
   • jaw pain
     
   • back pain
     
   • Dizziness
     
   • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
     
   • Profuse cold sweat
     
   • Extremely tired
     
   • Nausea and want to vomit
     
   • Abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia)
     
5. Precautions for taking nitroglycerin lozenges: Some people may carry nitroglycerin lozenges with them to use when they have angina. However, if they misjudge the symptoms, using nitroglycerin will delay treatment. It is recommended that patients communicate with their doctors to understand whether they need to prepare their own nitroglycerin sublingual tablets.
   
6. It is recommended to avoid exercising outdoors when the weather is too hot or cold, as this can easily put excessive stress on the heart.

Check you exercise heart rate

Exercise for people with heart disease

From a general perspective, aerobic exercise, which focuses on large muscle groups, is more suitable for patients with heart disease, including walking, brisk walking, jogging, swimming or cycling. Try to avoid exercises with high anaerobic properties, such as Heavy training, sprinting. Recommended exercise courses for patients with heart disease refer to the following:

1. Warm up time 5~10 minutes
   
2. Exercise time 30~60 minutes
   
3. Relaxation time 5~10 minutes

Adequate warm-up can help the body get into a state of exercise and reduce the chance of cramps or strains. Don’t sit down immediately after exercise. Do some cooling exercises to help your body gradually lower your heartbeat and blood pressure. Developing exercise habits is not something that can be achieved overnight. If the patient has no exercise habits, it may be difficult to exercise continuously for 30 minutes at the beginning. It is recommended to start with 10 minutes each time and exercise 3 times a day to reach 30 minutes. Recommended amount of exercise.

As long as you maintain your exercise habits, your cardiopulmonary capacity will gradually improve, allowing you to be more comfortable during exercise. But don’t forget to go back regularly to track your heart disease and discuss your exercise status with your doctor, so you can better control your condition and reduce the possibility of recurrence of heart disease.