Calcium Blockers & Aerobic Exercise

Calcium blockers, also called calcium channel blockers or calcium agonists, are a class of medications designed to relax your blood vessels and lower your heart's pumping workload, the American Heart Association says. If you perform aerobic exercises while taking a calcium blocker, the effects of your medication can make it difficult or impossible for you to reach a common exercise goal called target heart rate, the Merck Manuals says.

Calcium Blockers

The American Heart Association says your doctor may prescribe a calcium blocker for the treatment or prevention of a number of common conditions -- including chest pain, migraines, hypertension, heartbeat irregularities, complications related to brain aneurysms and ailments such as Raynaud's disease that disrupt or limit your normal blood flow. Doctors also sometimes prescribe drugs in this category in combination with cholesterol-lowering medications called statins, or with various medications for hypertension. Commonly available calcium blockers include nisoldipine, diltiazem, nicardipine, verapamil, felodipine and amlodipine, the Mayo Clinic says.

Target Heart Rate

Your target heart rate is a level of heart exertion designed to provide health benefits during aerobic exercise without exposing you to undue health risks. To determine this rate, determine the maximum number of beats per minute your heart can safely tolerate. Calculate this number by subtracting your current age from the number 220. Once you know your maximum safe heart rate, you can set your target level of exertion during exercise. Inexperienced exercisers typically set a target rate that equals 50 percent of their maximum level and increase this rate as they increase their exercise capacity, the American Heart Association says.

Target Rate Difficulties

If you take calcium blockers, the effects of your medication may reduce your heart rate to the point where you can't reach the target exercise rate indicated for your age, according to the Merck Manuals. In these circumstances, you may need to work with your doctor to find some other way to estimate your level of exertion and maintain proper safety during aerobic exercise. Your doctor may set a lower target heart rate that you can reach while taking your medication.

Considerations

Physically inactive and overweight people typically reach their target heart rates much more quickly and easily than well-conditioned people and trained athletes, the Merck Manuals reports. Target heart rates are only estimations, and your own safe workload during exertion may differ from generally established values. In addition to calcium blockers, medications called beta blockers slow your heart rate and can make it difficult or impossible to reach your target rate, the Merck Manuals says. Consult your doctor for more information.

Calcium Blockers & Aerobic Exercise