Heart disease? Exercises that help, exercises to avoid

Mar 15, 2010 12:25 PM

Physical exercise is good for practically everybody, so don’t use heart disease as an excuse not to do it. Just be sure to work out safely to avoid exacerbating your condition. Start by consulting with your doctor about any precautions you should take. Also ask for a referral to a physical therapist with expertise in heart disease.

Exercises that help:

Aerobic and strengthening exercises, which lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, and strengthen the heart muscle.

Exercises to avoid:

Exercises or environmental conditions that result in profuse sweating, which can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure and may increase the risk of blood clots.
When strength training, don’t strain or hold your breath during exertion, since that can cause blood pressure to spike.

Precautions:

Ask for a referral to a cardiac rehab program or personal trainer with experience working with cardiac patients.
Keep heart rate below the point at which abnormalities appeared on your stress test or when chest discomfort starts.
If you are on beta-blockers that slow your heart rate, gauge exertion by how hard exercise feels and whether you can breathe and talk easily.

—Nancy Metcalf, Senior Program Editor

This article first appeared in the January 2010 issue of Consumer Reports on Health.

Not getting enough exercise can put you at risk for heart disease. Find out what other factors might increase your risk and take a look at the evidence for vitamin D in preventing heart disease.