Exercise is a useful tool for treating and preventing heart disease. Types of cardiovascular disease can include congestive heart failure and coronary and peripheral artery disease. Exercise aimed at treating cardiovascular disease should improve the disease and ease activities of daily living. Doing the right kind of exercise can mean the difference between a safe and effective program and a dangerous and ineffective outcome.
Goals
The goals of an exercise program should produce certain physiological outcomes. Improved disease prognosis is always at the forefront. Improvement in exercise tolerance, improved symptoms, improved blood lipid levels, reduction in negative behaviors, decreased stress and decreased mortality are all goals of an effective cardiovascular disease exercise program, according to the Cardiac Rehabilitation Clinical Care Guidelines.
Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
Cardiac rehabilitation occurs in the hospital as an inpatient as well as on an outpatient basis. When you begin cardiac rehabilitation, you work with professional nurses and exercise physiologists whose primary goal is to get you back to leading a normal life. Cardiac rehabilitation is primarily for those who have suffered a heart-related incident such as a heart attack or open heart surgery. Lifestyle changes, including regular exercise and nutrition, are emphasized.
Exercise Prescription
The exercise prescription for a person with cardiovascular disease should be comprised of a warmup, cool down, aerobic fitness and muscular fitness portions. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, the entire exercise program should last about 50 minutes. The warmup including stretching should last five to 10 minutes. Muscular fitness including low-intensity resistance training of all major muscle groups should last 10 to 20 minutes and be done only two days per week. Aerobic exercise should last for 30 to 45 minutes that may be split into intervals and should be done five days per week. Finally, the cool down should consist of very low intensity aerobic exercise and stretching and should last for five to 10 minutes.
Considerations
Unlike in an ordinary exercise routine, when working with a cardiovascular disease intensity should be based upon how the activity feels and not that of heart rate. Because certain medications can alter the heart's response to exercise, intensity should be evaluated based on a rating of perceived exertion, or RPE. Exercise should be performed as you can tolerate it and only after the approval of your doctor. If you are uncertain on how to get started, begin by working with a trainer or exercise physiologist who is experienced in helping those with cardiovascular disease.
References
- "Exercise Testing and Prescription"; David C. Nieman; 2007
- "ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription"; Mithcell H. Whaley, PhD, Peter H. Brubaker, Phd, Robert Otto, Phd (Eds.); 2006.
