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Heart Disease: Weight Control and Exercise

Being overweight can not only be unhealthy, but it also can also make your heart work extra hard. Losing weight will reduce the strain on your heart. Work with your doctor to develop a plan for losing weight, if necessary.

Exercise and physical activity are important for people who suffer from heart failure. Since the heart isn't working properly, many people mistakenly believe exercise will make their heart failure symptoms worse. Most people find exercise reduces stress, boosts energy levels and improves their heart failure symptoms. 

It is important to consult with your physician before beginning any exercise routine. Each individual's condition is unique and your physician may suggest you avoid certain activities and focus your energies on others. 

If you are not used to physical activity, start slow and work up to 30 minutes per day, increasing the intensity of your exercise as you feel up to it. Children and adults should participate in 30 minutes or more of moderate physical activity each day.

Never exercise to the point of exhaustion or pain. Stop exercising if you experience shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, nausea or lightheadedness.

Whether you enroll in a gym or formal exercise program, or you plan daily moderate physical activity (such as walking) on your own, it is important to take time each day to exercise, and to stay within your physician's recommendations and your own comfort zone.

Useful Exercise Tips

(Provided by the American Heart Association and Cleveland Clinic)

Do:

• Begin participating in activities that require a moderate amount of energy, such as walking. Cycling and swimming can be considered if you are already physically active.
• Use stretching exercises to warm up before you begin exercising
• Exercise with a friend or family member to increase your motivation
• Exercise at the same time of day to form a habit
• Choose exercises you enjoy, and use a variety of exercises to maintain your interest
• Plan your exercise time 1-2 hours after a light meal
• Take advantage of opportunities to be more active during the day. Take the stairs instead of an elevator, walk the mall before shopping, or use 10-15 minutes of your lunch break to take a walk around the perimeter of your office building.

Don't:

• Exercise in extreme heat or cold
• Participate in exercises that require quick bursts of energy or cause shortness of breath, chest pain and/or dizziness. If these symptoms occur, stop your exercise right away.