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NYC Cardiologist and Cardiovascular Clinics

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 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 causing 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.