Exercise

Why is exercise so important?

Exercise strengthens your heart muscle. It can also help you feel more energetic, help you feel more in control of your health and help you lose weight and keep it off. Exercise may also lower your blood pressure and reduce your cholesterol level.

Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms during exercise:

  • Shortness of breath for more than about 10 minutes
  • Chest pain or pain in your arms, neck, jaw or stomach
  • Dizzy spells
  • Pale or splotchy skin
  • Very fast heart beat or an irregular heart beat
  • Cold sweats
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Weakness, swelling or pain in your legs

What kind of exercise is good?

The best types of exercise are those that involve your whole body, such as walking, cycling, jogging, rowing, cross-country skiing or swimming. Your doctor or rehabilitation therapists may also prescribe activities to increase your strength and flexibility.

How often should I exercise?

You'll probably want to start slowly and gradually add to how much you do. Your doctor may want you to exercise 3 or 4 times a week for about 10 to 30 minutes at a time. Be sure to warm up before exercising by stretching for minutes or more. Stretching again at the end of your exercise to cool down helps reduce muscle soreness.

What else can I do?

Your doctor will probably recommend that you make some changes in your diet, such as cutting back on fat and cholesterol and watching how much salt you eat. If you smoke, your best interests naturally dictate that you should quit. Your doctor may also suggest that you learn better ways to deal with stress, such as relaxation training and deep breathing.

  

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