As with any heart condition, exercise should be done with the guidance of your doctor. Patients with heart valve disease, in which the valves do not open or close properly, affecting the amount of blood that is pumped through them. As a result, the heart has to work harder. However, as long as you follow your doctor's advice and are aware of warning signs such as shortness of breath, chest pain or discomfort, and dizziness, physical activity is still an option and is important in maintaining some level of fitness.
Bicycling
The Cleveland Clinic advises against isometrics and heavy resistance training that involves the arms because of the extra burden placed on the already taxed heart muscle. Cleveland Clinic cardiologists instead recommend rhythmic, low-resistance exercises that involve large muscle groups like the legs. That makes bicycling an ideal choice. A good bike ride will not only tone your muscles, but it will help maintain blood flow throughout the body. If you can find a partner to ride with, that's preferable, just in case you have heart trouble or any other issues during your ride.
Brisk Walking
If you have valve disease, or perhaps you had a heart valve repaired or replaced, walking will likely be a prescribed exercise or part of your cardiac rehabilitation program that teaches you about appropriate exercises, diet, medication adherence and other heart-related matters. Doctors at the Baylor Health System note that supervised treadmill walking is useful, not just to get you moving, but to help measure your exercise tolerance and your overall fitness improvement once you start a supervised exercise and modified lifestyle program.
Swimming
After a period of some controversy, largely out of concerns that water sports specifically might increase the risk of cardiac arrythmias, it has been shown that swimming within a doctor's guidelines is generally safe for heart valve patients and those with heart valve replacements, according to the International Self-Monitoring Association of Oral Anticoagulated Patients. One key warning is to avoid holding your breath for extended periods.
