NYC Cardiologist and Cardiovascular Clinics
Exercise is an essential component to cardiac rehab. The problem is that a lot of patients don’t know what kind of physical activity is safe after a heart attack.
The best advice we can give is to talk to a cardiologist. NYC heart clinics have entire cardiac care teams devoted to your heart health, with the right guidance, you can lead a life that is both active and heart smart.
The Basic Guidelines
Ease into it. Listen to your cardiologist. NYC patients need to know the basics before advancing. Here’s a review, presented by WebMD:
- Medication changes. New medications can greatly affect your response to exercise; your doctor can tell you if his normal exercise routine is still safe.
- Heavy lifting. Make sure that lifting or pushing heavy objects and chores such as raking, shoveling, mowing, or scrubbing aren’t off limits. Chores around the house can be tiring for some people; make sure you only do what you’re able to do without getting tired.
- Safe exercises. Get the doctor’s approval before you lift weights, use a weight machine, jog, or swim.
General workout tips for heart disease patients:
- Be sure any exercise is balanced with rest.
- Avoid encouraging isometric exercises such as push-ups and sit-ups. Isometric exercises involve straining muscles against other muscles or an immovable object.
- Don’t exercise outdoors when it is too cold, hot, or humid. High humidity may cause you to tire quickly; extreme temperatures can interfere with circulation, make breathing difficult, and cause chest pain. Better choices are indoor activities such as mall walking.
- Make sure you stay hydrated. It is important to drink water even before you feel thirsty, especially on hot days.
- Extremely hot and cold showers or sauna baths should be avoided after exercise. These extreme temperatures increase the workload on your heart.
- Steer clear of exercise in hilly areas. If you must walk in steep areas, slow down when going uphill to avoid working too hard. Always monitor your heart rate closely.
- If your exercise program has been interrupted for a few days (for example, due to illness, vacation, or bad weather), ease back into your routine. You should start with a reduced level of activity and gradually increase it until you’re back where you started.
Dr. Seldon, a Heart Doctor and Cardiologist in New York City, offers same day appointments and all testing is done on site. Call us at (212) 367-8000.
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