If you get short of breath quickly, have a heart condition, or have high blood pressure, your healthcare provider may give you specific safety guidelines when exercising.
VeryWell Health’s recent article entitled “3 Best Exercises for Heart Health” notes that for most adults without significant heart, lung, blood vessel, muscle, or joint problems, walking at an average pace of three miles per hour is generally a safe and effective way to add moderate-intensity physical activity to your day.
Always speak with your healthcare provider before starting or increasing any new exercise program to ensure your heart, lungs and blood vessels are healthy enough to operate properly.
If you have heart disease, your heart isn’t working as efficiently as it should and will have to work harder to pump blood throughout your body when exercising. That’s why you must start with a lower intensity and shorter duration of physical activity to allow your heart time to get stronger and build up the capability to support the cardiovascular demands of exercising.
Your healthcare provider may also recommend keeping your heart rate within a target range and stopping exercise if your heart rate exceeds a certain limit to protect your heart and prevent damage from cardiac overload. Depending on your average resting heart rate, these values will be personalized for you. Again, you should consult your physician.
Exercise is a specific form of structured and planned physical activity, including aerobic exercise, strength training and stretching.
At least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week is recommended to maintain good heart health and lower your risk of heart disease.
Always talk with your healthcare provider before beginning any new exercise program to ensure it is appropriate for you.
Exercise is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle for all adults to help keep optimal heart health. A sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise can increase your risk of developing many conditions that affect your heart and other organs.
Regular exercise is important for all seniors to keep their muscles strong and flexible, and it’s vital for a healthy heart.
Physical activity and exercise help to prevent your risk of heart attack and heart disease. They can also help you improve and manage already-developed heart conditions.
Beginning slowly and gradually increasing your physical activity intensity, frequency and duration is key for allowing your body to adapt to a new change in pace and prevent injury.
Reference: VeryWell Health (Dec. 16, 2021) “3 Best Exercises for Heart Health”
Free E-Newsletter – Subscribe Now
