Why should I exercise?
Regular exercise has many benefits. Exercise, especially aerobic exercise, can:
- Strengthen your heart and cardiovascular system
- Reduce your heart disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure and being overweight
- Improve your circulation and help the body use oxygen better
- Improve your heart failure symptoms
- Help increase your energy levels so you can do more activities without becoming tired or short of breath
- Lower blood pressure
- Improve muscle tone and strength
- Improve balance and joint flexibility
- Strengthen bones
- Help reduce body fat and help you reach a healthy weight
- Help reduce stress, tension, anxiety, and depression
- Boost self-image and self-esteem
- Improve sleep
- Make you feel more relaxed and rested
- Make you look fit and feel healthy
Talk to your health care provider first
Always check with your doctor or nurse first before
starting an exercise program. Your doctor or nurse can help you find a program
that matches your level of fitness and physical condition.
Here are some questions to ask- How much exercise can I do each day?
- How often can I exercise each week?
- What type of exercise should I do?
- What type of activities should I avoid?
- Should I take my medication(s) at a certain time around my exercise schedule?
- Do I have to take my pulse while exercising?
Cardiac rehabilitation
Your doctor may encourage you to participate in the
hospital’s cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) program. A cardiac rehab program is
designed to help you exercise safely and maintain a heart-healthy lifestyle. The
program generally includes:
- A tailored exercise program
- Education
- Changing risk factors (such as quitting smoking and changing your diet)
What type of exercise is best?
Exercise can be divided into three basic types:
Stretching: slow lengthening of the muscles.
Stretching the arms and legs before and after exercising helps prepare the
muscles for activity and helps prevent injury and muscle strain. Regular
stretching also increases your range of motion and flexibility.
Cardiovascular or aerobic: steady physical
activity using large muscle groups. This type of exercise strengthens the heart
and lungs and improves the body’s ability to use oxygen.
Aerobic exercise has the most benefits for your heart. Over time, aerobic exercise can help decrease your heart rate and blood pressure
and improve your breathing (since your heart won’t have to work as hard during exercise).
Aerobic exercises include: walking, jogging, jumping rope, bicycling (stationary or outdoor), cross-country skiing, skating, rowing,
and low-impact aerobics or water aerobics.