Heart Disease And Exercise
The Not So Odd Couple
The Odd Couple May Be You And Your Doc !
When it comes to heart disease and exercise . . .
You’ve heard it a hundred times!
Many discussions about exercise in the doctor’s office follow a pretty standard pattern.
The doctor will tell you that you need to exercise.
You’ll nod your head and say ok.
The recommendations on what you should do will be general and vague, like, ‘walk more’ or ‘join a health club’.
Don’t be Oscar and Felix!
Be Proactive And Work With
Your Doctor To Set Goals
Use your physician’s expertise and develop a support system.
When you decide to change your behavior, then reaching your exercise goals will be that much more effective.
There are 6 stages of change:
Prochaska’s Model
• Precontemplation – lack of awareness that life can be improved by a change in behavior;
• Contemplation – recognition of the problem, initial consideration of behavior change, and information gathering about possible solutions and actions;
• Preparation – introspection about the decision, reaffirmation of the need and desire to change behavior, and completion of final pre-action steps;
• Action – implementation of the practices needed for successful behavior change (e.g. exercise class attendance);
• Maintenance – consolidation of the behaviors initiated during the action stage;
• Termination – former problem behaviors are no longer perceived as desirable (e.g. skipping a run results in frustration rather than pleasure)
Prochaska’s Model for change shows how you can progress from apathy about exercise to making it a habit for life!
Your New Exercise Program
Exercise strengthens your heart. As a cardiac patient, you need to exercise safely. Some of the concerns to bring up with your doctor about exercise are:
• Your medications—medications can affect how you feel and respond to exercise. Ask the physician about side effects.
• Heavy lifting—is lifting of any heavy objects off limits to you? Can you shovel, rake or mow? Household chores can be draining to some people.
• Safe exercises—is it OK with your doctor for you to lift weights? Can you jog, swim or do aerobics? What does he recommend as the correct exercise for you.
• How long to exercise, and how often? What intensity?
Let your doctor know what exercises you are doing. He may want you to avoid straining exercises like push ups or sit ups, or straining muscles against an immovable object.
You should be able to speak normally while exercising, not be short of breath.
Stop Exercising If. . .
And call the doctor with any of the following symptoms that don’t go away:
• Feeling weak
• Dizzy or lightheadedness
• Unexplained weight gain or swelling—call immediately!
• Pressure or pain in chest, neck, arm, jaw or shoulder
• Any other symptom that concerns you.
Some doctors will give you information sheets about heart disease and exercise that outline safe exercises for your heart. Take advantage of any information he has or exercise programs he has found useful for his patients.
Your doctor should be your partner in exercise! Get moving with the right exercise program for you!
So . . . heart disease and exercise are not an odd couple, it’s part of a heart healthy lifestyle.