Starting an exercise routine might be daunting, particularly if you already have a heart condition
Physical activity can have a significant impact on your heart’s health, giving you the ability to better tolerate exertion in all areas of life which will lead to more enjoyment and satisfaction. But why and how? To find out the answers, continue reading!
Starting an exercise routine might be daunting, particularly if you already have a heart condition. Engaging in any exercise without professional supervision or approval can be a risk. Always discuss a desire to return to exercise or physical activity with your medical providers and receive their approval before starting an exercise program.
A personal trainer or an exercise physiologist can help identify the right exercise program for you. While personal trainers hold a certification, exercise physiologists (EPs) generally hold up to a Master’s degree which signifies more training and education. Finding and collaborating with an EP that has worked with heart failure clients can have a significant impact on the quality of your exercise plan both in its effectiveness and safety.
When you work with an EP, the process is similar to a dietitian. An EP will conduct an initial assessment, which may include physical testing to gauge your physical condition, along with reviewing your medical history and any physician’s recommendations. This makes the EP well prepared to write an exercise prescription that’s tailored to your specific needs.
However, do not discount a personal trainer. While personal trainers are unable to write exercise prescriptions for those with health concerns such as heart failure (HF), they can take an exercise prescription your physician writes and use it as a foundation for an exercise program for you.
Embarking on this new journey of physical activity will lead to an improved quality of life. And although barriers will crop up from time to time, you can successfully navigate them to make sure that physical fitness and exercise is a highlight of your lifestyle. Keep reading future issues of MyWellness Magazine as we cover physical activity in depth plus discuss common barriers and ways to address them.
Your heart is a muscle, too!
Like any muscle, exercise can help keep your heart healthy. By exercising, your heart pumps more blood, improves its strength, and saves your heart from atrophy (reducing in size).[14] This helps the heart function with optimal efficiency and work less to achieve the same level of effort.[14] Given these benefits, physical activity can reduce the risk of death caused by heart disease.[14]
