Congestive cardiac failure is a cardiovascular disorder that interferes with your heart's ability to pump blood through your body. When your heart fails to pump efficiently, blood can back up into your lungs, liver, abdomen or extremities. Congestive cardiac failure usually occurs when your heart sustains damage from a heart attack or from medical conditions like diabetes and coronary artery disease. If you have congestive cardiac failure, your doctor may recommend a regular exercise regimen to help manage your condition.
Benefits of Exercise
Some patients suffering from congestive cardiac failure develop a low tolerance for exercise. According to MayoClinic.com, however, exercise is an important part of promoting good cardiovascular health and preventing congestive cardiac failure from worsening. Getting regular exercise can help to increase your endurance and strengthen the muscles in your body, decreasing the strain exerted on your heart muscle. Activities like walking, jogging, weightlifting and bicycling provide a light, easy workout without placing excessive stress on your heart.
Location
Your doctor may give you the green light to exercise at home on your own or recommend that you enroll in an on-site cardiac-rehabilitation program. A cardiac rehabilitation program is a structured rehabilitation and education program specifically tailored to each patient's needs. There you will exercise under the supervision of a team of cardiologists, physical therapists and occupational therapists that will design an exercise program that is appropriate for your condition. Cardiac rehabilitation programs can last from two to 12 months.
Risks
If you have congestive cardiac failure, consult your doctor or cardiologist before starting a new exercise regimen. Your doctor will assess your condition to determine whether your heart is healthy enough to handle exercise and, if so, let you know which exercises will be the safest and most effective. Avoid exercising when you feel extremely weak or tired and avoid pushing yourself too hard. When exercising on your own, take frequent breaks and allow your body to rest. Overexerting yourself can potentially strain your heart and exacerbate your congestive cardiac failure. Following a doctor-approved exercise regimen is the best way to reduce your risk of getting injured.
Considerations
To keep your heart condition under control, resist the urge to stop exercising even when your condition has improved or after you have completed your on-site cardiac-rehabilitation program. Abandoning exercise altogether may backfire in the end, as your symptoms may eventually return. Making exercise a permanent part of your life is essential to keeping your heart healthy.
