The cardiologist told whether it is possible for people with heart disease to do sports

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It may seem like a constant regimen of rest and relaxation is the best course of action for someone with heart disease, but staying active is important for heart and overall health. Elijah Baer, ​​MD, a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic Healthcare in London, explains why and how even people whose conditions put them at higher risk of cardiac arrest can exercise safely.

“Even in patients with severe heart damage that causes heart failure, exercise can be important to improve quality of life,” says Dr. Behr. There is a caveat: “This should be within reason, and care should be taken not to worsen the underlying condition.”

What should be considered when exercising with heart disease?

When developing an exercise plan, the underlying heart disease should be taken into account. For example, if someone has coronary heart disease, which is a build-up or blockage of the arteries due to cholesterol, then excessive exercise can cause chest pain and increase the risk of the underlying disease.

On the other hand, patients with conditions , which are not aggravated by exercise, such as some heart rhythm problems, can exercise as much as they want.

What type of exercise is recommended?

“Patients can do cardiovascular exercise and it can actually be very beneficial for their well-being and prognosis. However, the intensity and duration of exercises should correspond to their condition,” says Dr. Ber.

In general, if the condition is negatively affected by exercise, it is better to avoid high-intensity, endurance or competitive sports and an individual approach by a cardiologist is recommended.

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According to Dr. Behr, avoiding overly intense or prolonged exercise or competitive sports is usually the key to minimizing the risk and maximizing the benefit of exercise in patients with conditions that put them at risk of cardiac arrest.